When Aba Stood Still For Ikemba Nnewi

For Gabriel Ukwuije, a war

veteran who fought on the side of the defunct Biafra during the Nigerian civil war, the Ikemba Nnewi — Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was a hero in life and in death.

According to Ukwuije, the honours accorded the former Biafran warlord, on account of his elaborate obsequies, are indeed unprecedented in Igboland.

The Ikemba Nnewi passed on three months ago in London, after a protracted illness. On account of his role in the three-year Nigerian civil war — 1967 to 1970, his place in Nigeria’s political history will endure forever.

Since the announcement of his death on Nov. 26, 2011, there had been a flurry of activities by state governments of the South East, as well as his political associates, to give the Ikemba a befitting final farewell.

Quite significant was the huge reception accorded the ex-warlord at Aba, the industrial hub of the South-East geo-political zone by his kinsmen.

Popular accounts have it that the late Ojukwu had a sentimental attachment to Aba, also fondly called Enyimba City.

He was said to have specifically requested his wife, Bianca, to ensure that whenever he died, his remains were taken to the city before final internment.

His close associates recall that it was in that city that he lived after his university education at Oxford, U.K., choosing to be his own person, despite his background as a son of a multi-millionaire father.

It was also in that city that he made up his mind to take up a military career, in spite of his father’s opposition.

No doubt, the legend of the “Aba Women’s Riot” of 1929 may also not have been lost on the mind of the young Oxford graduate.

Also tagged the “Women’s War” in Igbo history, thousands of Igbo women from Owerri and Calabar provinces had organized a massive revolt against the policies imposed by British colonial administrators in South-eastern Nigeria at that era.

The “war” touched off the most serious challenge to British rule in the history of the colony and took months to suppress. Somehow, it became a historic example of feminist and anti-colonial protest.

Like the heroic welcome and fanfare that characterized Ojukwu’s visit to Aba during his life time, his return, even in death was equally historic.

The Enyimba City was agog on Feb. 28, when Ojukwu’s remains were brought in for a state funeral service.

The Abia government had declared the day work-free and ordered all markets in the city closed, to enable people to pay their last respects to the departed statesman.

Expectedly, residents trooped out in their thousands to bid the Ikemba Nnewi a final farewell inside the Eyimba Stadium.

Governors of  Abia, Imo and Anambra and their wives were among dignitaries at the occasion.

The popular Igbo war song – nzogbu nzobgu, enyimba enyi – rent the air intermittently, as it did each time the city played host to the Ikemba in his lifetime.

Various dance groups from Igboland, including the Ohafia War Dancers and Abriba Cultural Troupe were on hand to entertain guests.

A military helicopter, marked NAF 2528, brought in the remains of the ex-Biafran warlord, while the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh and his political associates were also on hand to receive the remains.

Heavy presence of security operatives at strategic locations in the city, as well as the Enyimba stadium was remarkable, while men of the FRSC controlled traffic in the town.

At about 11am, a short funeral service was held, which was presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Aba, Rt. Rev. (Dr) Vincent Ezeonyia.

Ukwuije, who led Biafran war veterans to the Enyimba Sports Stadium, was nostalgic about Aba city, recalling that it offered great support to Biafran soldiers during the war.

“The support Biafran soldiers received from Aba, during the civil war, was unprecedented. Even when other sectors were captured, Aba remained the nerve centre of Biafra’s support,’’ he recalled.

Ukwuije explained that it was for that reason that Ojukwu may have requested specifically that his corpse be brought to Enyimba City for a final farewell at his death.

He said that the selfless qualities of the Ikemba Nnewi greatly endeared him to the Ndigbos and other Nigerians at large.

“In spite of being the son of a wealthy man – Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the ex- Biafran warlord did not disappear to save his life when the civil war broke out.

“Rather, late Ojukwu provided honest and committed leadership until it was very clear that all efforts to prosecute the war were exhausted. He then left for Cote D’ivoire on January 11, 1970 when that country’s president, late Houphouet Boigny granted him political asylum,’’ he said.

According to Ukwuije, the vacuum left behind by the Ikemba will be difficult to fill by any Igbo man.

In his tribute, Prof. Joshua Ogbonnaya, Chairman, Abia Local Organising Committee for the Burial of Ojukwu, said the funeral ceremony in Aba fell in line with the last wishes of Ojukwu.

“The choice of Aba is not only apt but also reminiscent of the fact that Aba was one of the earliest places Ikemba worked, after leaving Oxford University College.

“In 1956, I did a vacation job for the University of Ibadan in his (Ojukwu’s) office in Aba, when he was an Assistant District Officer (ADO),’’ he said.

Ogbonnaya noted that the people of Aba were grateful that Ojukwu specifically requested that his corpse be brought to Aba during his obsequies.

On his part, Dr Emma Adielu, Chairman of the ceremony, said Aba meant a lot to Ojukwu during his struggle for the emancipation of the Igbo people, noting that the city’s citizens had supported and shared the aspirations of the late icon.

Eulogising Ojukwu from his military background, retired Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, said that the deceased provided “inspiration, courage and motivation to young Igbo people to embrace military as a profession”.

“Great man (Ojukwu)! You gave us the best of military training; you taught us the need for education, how to be out-spoken and to be a disciplined soldier.

“Ojukwu imparted positive leadership virtues in us; a great man and one of the best dedicated soldiers the Nigerian Army ever produced,” he said.

Nwachukwu, who said he worked with the late military leader at the 5th Infantry Battalion, Kano, described the honour accorded Ojukwu in death as the best any military general could get anywhere.

“Though you retired as a Colonel, your burial rite is the best any army general could get anywhere; I salute my General in death — Ikemba Nnewi, Eze Gurugburu Ndigbo,’’ Nwachukwu said.

He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan, the five South East governors, senators and other prominent Igbo leaders, who contributed, to make the ceremony worthwhile.

Paying his last respects to late Ojukwu, Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia described the former Biafran warlord as a foremost de-tribalised Nigerian; an icon, a legendry and a visionary leader loved in life and death.

“Ojukwu was a de-tribalised Nigerian, who was born in the north, studied and lived in the west and was domiciled in the south, being of South-eastern parents,” he said.

Orji, who described Ojukwu as a charismatic, dedicated and focused leader, said that the late statesman “looked beyond his time”.

According to Orji, two major institutions in Umuahia – the War Museum and Ojukwu Bunker, have been used to immortalise the departed statesman.

He said that the defunct Biafra, which Ojukwu led, “opened the nation’s eyes to the need for a united Nigeria.”

Sen. Uche Chukwumerije ,who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of the Burial Committee, retired Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, said that Ojukwu, throughout his lifetime, provided a remarkable leadership and motivation to his people.

Chukwumerije, Vice-Chairman of the National Burial Organising Committee, said: “Aba was a place very dear to Ojukwu’s heart; Ojukwu, before his death, specifically requested that his remains be taken to Enyima City.’’

“Throughout Ojukwu’s lifetime, he cherished Aba, because it was a projection of the Enyimba spirit of vibrancy, courage, patriotism and selflessness.”

Ukwuije urged Nigerians to strive to enthrone true federalism in the country as a way of charting a true course for the nation’s development.

“Ojukwu was committed to a united Nigeria but opposed to marginalization of any of the ethnic components.

“This, he felt, could be better addressed by his philosophy of true federalism — a true federalism, whereby the regions will be stronger than the centre was what the defunct Biafra fought for.

“Unless Nigeria embraced the philosophy of true federalism as espoused by Ojukwu, the country will know no peace.’’

On his part, Mr Mandela Obasi, Director, Evergreen Hotels Ltd, Aba, who led a cultural dance troupe from Abiriba community to honour the departed statesman, the funeral for Ojukwu was a huge lesson to leaders of today.

“As a leader, we must learn to render selfless service; be honest and demonstrate love to the people as such attributes made Ojukwu stand out among present leaders,’’ he said.

With the internment of Ojukwu on March 2, in Nnewi, his hometown, a chapter in the nation’s political history closed.

No better tribute can be paid to the memory of the departed statesmen than what President Goodluck Jonathan said at his graveside.

According to Jonathan, “Ojukwu was raised by God for a specific assignment in Nigeria; he was not raised for the Igbos alone.”

Many Nigerians, no doubt, will not forget the Ikemba Nnewi and what he stood for in a hurry and can only wish that his gentle soul will rest in perfect peace.

Onyekwu writes for News Agency of Nigeria

Francis Onyeukwu