The Owerri event was electrifying. The pulse of the people could be felt everywhere in the state. The streets of Owerri and its environs were adorned with flags, buntings and banners, heralding the arrival of the Great Ojukwu. The young and old, including the sick, all managed to pour out their hearts in grief for Ojukwu. As the cart bearing the body of the Ikemba and members of his family waltzed its way through the city of Owerri, it was glaring that the people were already missing the warrior. The Owerri event was something out of this world. Crowds of people lined every route that the convoy traversed – wailing and saluting. Whoever missed these spectacles missed something in life. Speeches by select personalities added colour to the already colourful event. All they said centred round the theme: ‘Ojukwu the colossus.’ Yes, he was a colossus, yet humble and unassuming.?????????????
The carnival-like event entered the Enyimba City of Aba on Tuesday, February 28, in accordance with the will of Ojukwu. The entire city was agog with dancing, drumming and trumpeting. In fact, the whole markets in Abia State were closed, after the state government had declared a work-free day, in his honour. Aba traders showed the stuff they were made of as they danced and gyrated to the sounds of music coming from different directions. I am sure Ojukwu, even though lying lifeless in the gold casket, would occasionally stir in response to the razzmatazz and staccato of trumpets, violins, percussions coming from the different bands and entertainment groups that showcased their skills. It was easy to see how much Ojukwu was loved both in life and death.
From Aba the celebration entered the Coal City of Enugu. Enugu represented many things to the fallen Biafran General. Apart from housing the headquarters of Biafra, Enugu was his abode before he left for London where he died. It was in Enugu that the major event took place: concelebrated requiem mass, procession, tributes and soul-rending speeches. From Enugu the procession departed for Abakaliki where it was received by the State Government and other well-meaning sons and daughters of the state. After the Abakaliki event the procession came back to Enugu, and from there left for Awka – the capital of his ancestral state, Anambra. The Awka event was as colourful as it was in the other states that the body was taken to. Markets and offices in the state were under lock and key as thousands trooped out to accord him their last respects.
From Awka the body was taken to Nnewi – his hometown for interment. The whole town was in a state of frenzy. It was difficult to see any space for one to park one’s vehicle. The mausoleum – his final resting place – was exquisite and beautiful. It was indeed a piece of architectural masterpiece, befitting only for kings and queens. Ojukwu was much more than a king.
March 2 – the burial day proper was not an ordinary day from all consideration. The sign in the sky showed that something grievous had happened. It was then beginning to dawn on those present, including millions watching on television and listening to radio, that Ikemba was actually dead and would be interred in a matter of hours. The final minutes came as the body was lowered into the mausoleum that would be his resting place for some years to come. The audience was glitterati of personalities from all over the world. Guests from Gabon, Zambia and Ivory Coast were particularly visible and emotional. This could be blamed on their ties with Biafra during the war. It is on record that the three countries recognized Biafra and stood by it all through the war. They supported it with relief materials and other equipment that helped to reduce the sufferings of the people of Biafra.
The casket that was home to his final remains was well-designed and decorated – draped in military colours and looked every inch princely, rugged and antique. It was easy to picture that whoever was lying in its bowel was a kingly person. The pall-bearers were extraordinary in their display. The funeral procession, at every point, was sombre, solemn and sober. But this silence and solemnity was intermittently broken by an occasional staccato of gunshots and wailing from grief-stricken kinsmen and admirers that lined the routes as the Ikemba journeyed home.
To close watchers of national events, the burial of Ojukwu was one event never equalled in the annals of this country in recent times. The only burial of a national figure that could compare to it was that of the Owelle of Onitsha and former President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. The grandeur of the burial was boosted by the decision by the federal government to grant Ojukwu a full military burial. This decision was reached, despite the contrary positions of some persons on the matter. Ojukwu, from every ramification one may look at it, deserved the state burial granted him. Apart from being the first graduate to enlist into the Nigerian Army, he was a former military governor and a statesman of global standard.
Again, his selflessness and courage in the face of obvious adversities were exemplary. No wonder he took up arms after several entreaties to stop the massacre of his people in the north failed. It was the only option available to him at the time. The collapse of the Aburi Accord and the failure of the military leadership then to check the drift of the nation into anarchy led to secession by Biafra. In fact, given the circumstances under which the various ethnic groupings in Nigeria operated, coupled with the wide gully that existed among them, it was discernibly clear that it was just a matter of time before they polarized. The choice of the Igbo to go their own separate ways at that time found a boost in the unremitting willingness of Ojukwu to lead the struggle. Who else could have staked out his neck to defend the inalienable rights of his people at that critical period if not Ojukwu? He knew what was involved before he undertook the challenge.?
It must have surprised many a people, therefore, why such a fine and promising officer should settle for secession over the bountiful and highly-rewarding opportunities before him in his father’s multi-million pounds business empire and the civil service! It was, therefore, to some people, especially the short-sighted, a very suicidal choice. But have they bothered to ask what would have happened if such a critical choice of succession had not been made. Though bitter and largely-perilous, going to war was the only way the Igbo could fight to survive. So, it is a very stupid thing for anybody to begin to dissipate energy trying to rationalize the circumstances that caused Ojukwu to lead the war. What was succinctly clear, however, was that the present unity enjoyed by Nigerians would not have been possible if the incidence of the Nigeria/Biafra War had not occurred.
Therefore, the life, death and passage into eternal glory of Ojukwu meant so much for an average Easterner. That was why everything was done to eulogize and idolize him both in life and death. The enthusiastic participation of Nigerians of all shades, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliations, in the burial was quite instructive. Ordinarily, only a few would have believed that such a cross section of Nigerians would openly demonstrate such an outpouring of grief and sentiments to Ojukwu’s death! Going through the numerous condolence letters sent by prominent Nigerians on his death arouses a deep sense of nostalgia in one. They were moving and emotional. This underscores the simple fact that Ojukwu had a larger-than-life image and was widely revered. It contrasts sharply with some of the media comments on the Ikemba when he was alive. There was a time it seemed the media had set out to demonize him. Interestingly, all that is now history as Nigerians have through their demonstration of love underscored the fact that Ojukwu meant different things to different people.
Everything put together, the burial of Ojukwu would remain the most scintillating event ever to be held for any deceased Nigerian – civilian or military. It has also gone into the history books as one event that reunited Nigerians in spite of creed, tribe or political leaning.
Ojukwu may be dead and buried, but what he stood for would live forever. In death, Ojukwu was greater, bigger and more renowned than he was while alive!
?