DAVID-CHYDDY ELEKE in this report looks at the preparations being made to ensure hitch free burial for former warlord, and the leader of the Igbo people, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Since the announcement of his death last year, 26th November, there is no doubt that he will receive the best of burial ceremonies, this at least can be adduced from the razzmatazz that followed his health problems since December 2010 when he was flown out in an air ambulance to England for medical treatment.
Save for the intrigues surrounding the health of Late President Umar Yar’Adua as a result of his position as the president of the country, Ojukwu’s health condition can be said to be the most celebrated in history as everyone from a common man on the street to the high and mighty seemed to have their interest focused in all the developments about his health status.
On 2nd March, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu will be interred to mother earth to mark the end of his existence on earth, and arrangements have been in top gear to ensure that he gets the best of burial ceremony that could be bequeathed a man of his status.
All the five South East governors have already accepted to come together irrespective of political lining to ensure that the best is achieved, and a long list of members of his burial committee consisting of men of no mean repute tells the full story of what one should expect as former warlord, Ojukwu goes home.
Checks at Ojukwu’s country home revealed to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND that a big burial plan is on the way, even though it has been revealed that the burial ceremony would hold in Enugu. At Ojukwu’s country home, all the buildings have received a facelift, with the structures renovated and also repainted.
Two new structures consisting of storey buildings have also sprang up, while the entire compound have been very beautifully landscaped to befit the status of Dim Ojukwu, while transformers have been installed and the entire compound beautifully lit at night with flood lights.
The burial ceremony plans it is observed is already fostering unity in Igboland as it would be the first time Igbo elites are incorporating the members of the Chief Ralph Uwazuruike-led Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra(MASSOB) in their plan.
As the vice chairman of the burial committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije stated in a news conference to intimate on the level of preparedness recently that the MASSOB and other civil liberties Organisation would be given a chance to partake in giving the late former warlord the best of burial that they can, by contributing their quota.
MASSOB Director of Information, Mr Uchenna Madu told our correspondent that the group has long been preparing for the burial, and over one million members of MASSOB would be at the burial to bid Ojukwu farewell.
Madu also added that his men who have been keeping watch at Ojukwu’s country home since the announcement of his death would also help in providing security on the day of the burial, despite the fact that the federal government which has shown interest in the burial will deploy security to the venue.
He said that the services of MASSOB is based on ‘common understanding’ between the group and the federal government which they totally support to participate in the burial plans.
In Anambra state, the home state of Ojukwu, the burial rite commenced with a roadshow in fulfillment of the ‘Icho Madu’ rite, a traditional ceremony usually organized to search for the deceased, after which he can be certified truly dead, if not found.
The show which took place on Saturday, 12th December was indeed a foretaste of what to expect in Ojukwu’s burial. Major streets in the state capital, Awka were closed down as youths led by Governor Peter Obi combed the nook and cranny of Awka, searching for Ojukwu. Chief Kenneth Okonkwo, Consultant to the state governor on Vigilante matters who spoke to LEADERSHIP said the search is usually conducted for great men to ensure that they are not found before being declared dead.
As activities for the burial of Ojukwu commence in diverse places, the world over, it is expected that on the 27th February, his body will arrive the country from the United Kingdom, and would be laid in state in various towns in Nigeria. Burial ceremony according to the burial committee would be held in Enugu State, with personalities from all walks of life gracing the occasion.
Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the burial, Mr Dubem Obaze who is also the Anambra State Commissioner For Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND in an interview that the choice of Enugu for the burial ceremony even when Ojukwu is from Anambra State is to ensure that the personality of Ojukwu is not narrowed to Anambra because he hails from there.
Obaze said Ojukwu was a world class figure, and holding the burial ceremony in Enugu, which is the capital of the East Central State where Ojukwu administered, would further speak volume of his person.
Obaze also said that holding the burial in Enugu would give room for top personalities including President Jonathan to attend the burial ceremony.
Ojukwu whose body will proceed to Anambra where it will be laid in state at Ekwueme Square; he will be buried in what is described as a private funeral in his country home in Nnewi.
LEADERSHIP observed in a recent visit to Nnewi that the tomb where Ojukwu will be buried has also been constructed, and was nearing completion as at the time the visit.
Several personalities would be expected in Anambra State and Nnewi particularly, and it is gathered that hotel rooms are being booked in advance, while some hotel management have shot up their rates, creating a market for even hotels in the outskirts of the industrial town of Nnewi. Security arrangements have also been made to secure all that would visit the state for the ceremony.
According to Chukwumerije, the postponement of the burial from its initial February date to March was to avoid any hitches the fuel subsidy protest would have posed in the event that the earlier date was stuck to. With all in place, it is expected that Ojukwu will go home in pomp.