Leader of defunct Biafra Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who died early yesterday at the Hammers Field Hospital in London, would have defended Nigeria with comparable zeal, “if he were the one in my shoes”, Gen Yakubu Gowon, former head of state and contemporary of the late Ojukwu, stated yesterday.
“I have never regarded or called Ojukwu an enemy. He had been my friend for a very long time when we used to crack jokes at the officers’mess. It was unfortunate that he took up arms against Nigeria, but I believed very strongly that if he were the one in my shoes, he would have defended Nigeria with the same zeal,” Gowon told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY yesterday.
The former leader who prosecuted the 30-month-long Nigeria-Biafra civil war expressed gladness that Ojukwu died a committed Nigerian.
“I am also glad that he died as a very committed Nigerian who even tried to be president democratically; not once but twice. Now that he has ascended to glory, may his soul find peace. “It is a very sad news but it is a path everyone will tread once your time is up. I was glad to hear that he passed away peacefully.
“My condolence to his wife Bianca, children and grandchildren. My condolence also to his replica, Ojukwu Jnr. My condolence also to my young friend, the governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi,” he further added.
The family of the late ex-Biafran warlord yesterday confirmed his death. A statement signed by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu for the family, said he died after a protracted and brave fight against stroke.
“The People’s General,? Ikemba Nnewi, Dikedioranma Ndigbo, Odenigbo Ngwo,? Ezeigbo Gburugburu,? Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, died in the early hours of today in London.We thank all those that showed concern in our period of difficulties, starting from the President of the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR. We thank, in a special way, the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who went above and beyond the call to duty to look after him.
“Besides paying the hospital bills, he visited London on a monthly basis to see him. He was there yesterday and only came back this morning to receive the news, whereupon he entered the next available flight back to London. He even had to fly Economy since other classes were fully booked.”
The death of Ojukwu, who was also leader of the opposition All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), after a long-drawn battle with stroke in London, has further depleted the ranks of foremost personalities that shaped post-independence Nigeria.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described the late Ojukwu as a brave, courageous, fearless and charismatic leader whose outstanding contributions to the evolution of modern Nigeria had since assured his place in the history of the country.
Jonathan, who noted that it was with sadness and a deep feeling of great national loss that he received news of the death of Ojukwu in the United Kingdom,? prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest from his earthly labours.
According to him, “The late Chief Ojukwu’s immense love for his people, justice, equity and fairness which forced him into the leading role he played in the Nigerian civil war, as well as his commitment to reconciliation and the full reintegration of his people into a united and progressive Nigeria in the aftermath of the war, will ensure that he is remembered forever as one of the great personalities of his time who stood out easily as a brave, courageous, fearless, erudite and charismatic leader”.
“President Jonathan joins Chief Ojukwu’s family, the government and people of his home state, Anambra, the entire Igbo people of Nigeria and his friends, associates and followers across the country in mourning him,” a statement by the president’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati stated.
Former head of state Gen Muhammadu Buhari stated that: “I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu and the Ojukwu extended family, the governments of the South-Eastern states, Ndigbo in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, and to the entirety of the people of Nigeria on this great loss.
“In his life, Dim Ojukwu had been many things to many people—a soldier, a leader, a rebel and a politician. It was in his role as rebel to the nation and a symbol to his people and fighter for their rights that he came to play a pivotal role in the tragic civil war in which we found ourselves in trenches facing each other as brother-enemies fighting to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of our fatherland. Later, we would still be fighting, this time together in the trenches of Nigeria’s politics, to finish the battle for unity and progress.”
For Senate President David Mark, the deceased Ikemba Nnewi was a dogged fighter who fought till the end to liberate the oppressed.
“No matter the angle it is viewed, Ojukwu will be remembered as a man who stood up to be counted when it mattered most. He was a man who hated oppression and he did his best to liberate the downtrodden.”
According to him, “Ojukwu deserved a prominent chapter in the history of Nigeria and no one can deny the fact the he played his role creditably according to the dictates of the time.”
He stressed that Ojukwu on return from exile after the ill-fated 30-month-old fratricidal Nigeria/Biafra civil strife organised his people on the need to fully reintegrate into the Nigerian nation state.
The northern governor in their reaction stated that Nigeria has lost a great man in the death of?? Ojukwu.
Chairman of the forum and governor of Niger State Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu commiserated with the family of the late Ojukwu on behalf of the Northern Governors’ Forum saying that the people of Niger State, the 19 states of the North and indeed the entire country have lost a courageous man who would be sorely missed? for his immeasurable contributions to national development.
In a condolence message signed by his chief press secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the governor said though Ojukwu died at a ripe age of 78,after a prolonged illness, the forum is deeply pained by his passage.
“Like most of our Igbo brothers and sisters who were born in Zungeru (former capital of Northern Nigeria),Ojukwu excelled in his sojourn on this side of the divide. He did well as a soldier and as a politician,” the statement said.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on his part, described the death of Ojukwu as another colossal loss to Nigeria at a time of strenuous efforts for unity and reconciliation.
In a condolence message issued in Abuja by his media office, Atiku Abubakar recalled that Ojukwu’s role as a key actor in Nigeria’s political development cannot be easily forgotten.
He said Ojukwu was a tremendously respected and influential politician whose endorsement was frequently needed by others to build their political careers. According to Atiku, history had cast the late Ojukwu into a role and he played that part to the best of his abilities.
Prominent Igbo leaders yesterday eulogized late ex-Biafran leader.
Ojukwu, according to his wife, Bianca,? died? in Hammers Field Hospital in London in the early hours of yesterday.
He died less than a month after his 78th birthday celebration organized for him by the leader of the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.
Reacting to the demise of Ojukwu, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State expressed profound shock and sorrow over the death of the former Biafran leader.
Chime, in a release singed by his chief press secretary Chukwudi Achife, said that his passage had robbed the country of one her most notable historical and political figures.
He? described Ojukwu as? a foremost nationalist and activist whose contributions to the political and constitutional development of the country are not only indelible but in some ways inimitable.
The governor further described the deceased as a symbol of the struggle against injustice, segregation and oppression against any group of people in the countr, adding that his epic efforts had helped to lay the foundation for national integration and the sense of equality and unity that prevails in the country today.
Meanwhile, APGA in a statement which was signed by its national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, disclosed that Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu transited in the early hours of Saturday, at about 2.30am (London time).
“We lack words to describe our grief at this moment but we give all thanks to God for this rare gift of a human being who lived an uncommon life of selfless service to humanity.
“Our deep condolence go to his wife, children and other members of the great Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu family of Umudim Nnewi , Ndigbo and all Nigerians,” APGA mourned.
Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, in his reaction, said: “Amuma na Egbeigwe edelu juuuu; Udo eji akpu Agu agbabie; Odenigbo Ngwo anabago; Ikemba Nnewi? a gaba goo; Dikedioranmma nweru ka osi? noru kitaa, Ezeigbo Gburugburu , enwooooo! Obu inaba ka anyi mezie gini? Onye ga na-ekwuru anyi? Onye ga abamba? ka Agu ma oburu na ana emegbu anyi? Enwoooooooo! Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, enwoooooo!” Translation: “Lightning and thunder are silent; the rope used to control the lion has snapped; Odenigbo (famous abroad) of Ngwo is gone;
Beloved warrior (Dikedioramma) is not sitting properly now; King of Igbo worldwide (Ezeigbo gburugburu), enwooo! (lamentation); If you go, what shall we do? Who will be speaking for us?
Who will roar like a lion when we are persecuted? Enwooooo! (lamentation) Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, enwooo! (lamentation) ”
The president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Ralph Uwechue, who also reacted yesterday said: “The passing away of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu is like, the passing of an age in the chequered history of Igbo nation. He is a leader that has left a most significant stamp in courageous defence of Igbo cause.”
Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola also described the death of Ojukwu as a big loss to him personally and to Nigerians generally.
Governor Fashola, who expressed his condolences in an interview with journalists? at Lagos House, Marina, said; “Though we knew his health has been poor, one still expected a miracle from somebody whose image was as? large as who he was as the Ikemba of Nnewi.”