TRIBUTES AS OJIUKWU'S BODY ARRIVES.........ABUJA, NIGERIA.

Jonathan, Mark, Army Chief, others pay tribute as Ojukwu’s body arrives

EXACTLY 430 days after he was flown  out in coma to a London Hospital for  intensive medication and 91 days after his demise, the remains of late elder statesman and defunct Biafra Republic Leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was flown back to Nigeria, yesterday, to a rousing reception and ocean of tributes.

Ojukwu goes Home: Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu –Ojukwu at Abuja International Airport as corpse of Late Ojukwu arrives Nigeria. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

Given a full military funeral parade, President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika and Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, were among eminent Nigerians, who showered tributes on the revered Igbo leader, yesterday.

Economic activities came to a halt in Owerri, Imo State capital, which stood still as the corpse of Ikemba Nnewi arrived the state.
Ojukwu was flown out of the country in a military ambulance on December 23, 2010. He battled for life for almost a year and died on November 26, 2011.

While Jonathan described Ojukwu as an advocate of a united Nigeria, Ihejirika said he was one of the architects of modern Nigerian Army and Aliyu said Ojukwu could have been made the Nigerian Head of State in 1966 after the second military coup, if intellect, qualification and finesse were the yardsticks.

Triumphantly, Ojukwu’s corpse arrived aboard a British Airways plane at exactly 5.09am accompanied by members of his family, including his wife Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and some of his children. It was taken to the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja where a colourful military parade, the type reserved for heads of state, was held in his honour.

The casket was draped in the Nigerian flag complete with a green army cap. The ceremony was nearly turned into a political event as politicians from across the political divide thronged the arena to pay their last respects.

The long wait
Before the arrival of the corpse, many journalists had kept vigil at the airport to capture events as they unfolded. Representatives of different groups had also trooped to the airport early in the morning to participate in the military funeral. But only a handful of them gained entry into the highly restricted Presidential wing of the airport as security was very tight.

Proceedings at the military funeral began at about 11.20am when an ambulance brought the corpse of the late Ikemba to the tarmac after which it was taken over by senior army officers, made up of two Brigadier-Generals, four Colonels, two Lt.-Colonels and the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army who acted as pall bearers.

Children of Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu –Ojukwu at Abuja International Airport .

Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

They carried the corpse out of a military ambulance amidst military music to a spot close to the military guard of honour after which a Christian prayer session, led by the Catholic Bishop of Abuja Diocese, John Onaiyekan, followed.

In his remarks during the service, Onaiyekan described late Ojukwu as a hero, adding that most of those who were present at the occasion attended because they identified with the values he lived for.

Roll call
After the ceremonial parade, witnessed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan; Dame Patience Jonathan; Senate President David Mark; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Deputy House of Representatives Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha; Justice Chukwudifu Oputa (rtd); Governor Peter Obi; Chief Tom Ikimi; Chief Jim Nwobodo; Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; Lt. General Chris Obiakor (rtd); and FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, the corpse was carried into Nigeria Airforce C-130 aircraft registered NAF 917 and flown to Owerri.

Other eminent Nigerians at the funeral parade were Senators Uche Chukwumerije, Chris Ngige and Andy Uba; Labour Minister, Chief Nwogu; Comptroller-General of Customs, Mrs. Uzoma; Prof. ABC Nwosu; Senator Authur Nzeribe; Chief Ojo Maduekwe; APGA Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh; Mrs. Josephine Anenih; Chief Ben Obi, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu and Bishop Hilary Okeke of Nnewi Diocese.

‘He fought until the last plane left Biafra’
Speaking at the ceremony, President Jonathan, who was represented Vice President Sambo, described Odumegwu-Ojukwu as an advocate of a united Nigeria.

He said: “In all his life he displayed strong leadership traits, epitome of service and sacrifice, and a vibrant advocate of good governance.

“No word can adequately describe the nature, character, legacy and lessons left behind by this soldier and gentleman. I believe the outpouring of encomium cannot stop coming the way of this gentleman because everything said about Ojukwu is due to his contribution— both personal and professional— to our great nation.

“Let it be said that Ojukwu died when the country needed his service most; let it be said that he lived and served with all his might when Ibo and Nigerians needed him most. He stood up and fought for what he believed in. He stood up for justice and refused to compromise. He challenged man’s inhumanity to man and faced issues affecting his kit and kin. He stood his ground and fought until the last plane left Biafra.”

Describing Ojukwu as a man, who was born ‘with a silver spoon’ but chose to drop the spoon for the cause he believed in, the President said: “He lived a humble live despite being the son of one of the wealthiest men in Nigeria and had his education in United Kingdom as well as his Masters degree in history. On his return he was at the civil service and later joined the Nigerian Army where he began his rise in the military. As the first Quarter Master General of the Army, he instituted some policies, which are the hallmark of the Army and are still being used.”

Recalling that Ojukwu made the front cover of Times Magazine of August 23, 1968, Jonathan said this was a rear achievement by any black or African for that matter at the time, adding, “after the Biafra war, he was in exile for 13 years until former President Shehu Shagari granted him official pardon and opened the road for his return in 1982 when the people of Nnewi gave him the popular title of Ikemba.

“On his return to Nigeria, he joined politics and was instrumental to the creation of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. His bravery, courage and sacrifice lived after him and whatever contribution he has made or people think he has made will for ever be interred with his bones. He has over the years displayed physical and moral courage throughout his life with excellent intellectual and inter-personal communications skills. One would not be wrong to say that he was an advocate of united Nigeria.”

Ojukwu was founding father of modern Nigerian Army— Ihejirika
Speaking after the parade, Lt. General Ihejirika declared that the late Eze Igbo Gburugburu was a founding father of modern Nigeria Army as he was one of the few that enlisted into the Army as a graduate, while other colleagues of his were enlisting with primary and secondary school certificates.

He said: “The death of Ojukwu is a big loss not only to the nation, but also to the army. Ojukwu happened to be one of the first few Nigerian officers to enlist with a university degree into the army. His love for service to the fatherland, exemplified by his enlistment into the army is unparalleled, considering that he elected to start his career even as a recruit at the Depot. As at then, Depot was open to primary school certificate but Ojukwu joined with a university degree from Oxford and he endured the type of training and hardship that is part and parcel of recruits training like using bare feet to run.

“When the Army had just five battalions, he was one of the Commanding Officers at his time. So his entry helped to shore up the image of the Army at the time. So you can say he is one of the founding fathers of the modern day Nigeria army.”

Ikimi, Tambuwal, Anyim pay tributes
Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, said Ojukwu lived ahead of his time, adding that it was the Almighty God who chose to take him away at this period in the nation’s history.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, stated that Ojukwu’s death marked the end of an era in Nigeria’s political history.

He said: “He fought injustice; he would be remembered for his fearlessness. Africa has lost a statesman of uncommon ability. My wish is that Nigeria as a nation should correct the wrongs which he fought against.”

Senator Anyim, who thanked all who attended the occasion, said Ojukwu had left his footprints on the sands of time.

He could ‘ve been Head  of State— Aliyu

Delivering a lecture on Governance, Social Conflict and the Imperatives of Communal Harmony, organised by the Business Hallmark newspaper, yesterday, at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos, Governor Aliyu of Niger State said given his intellect, qualifications, qualities, Ojukwu was supposed to have been appointed the Nigerian Head of State after the second coup of 1966.

Aliyu absolved Ojukwu of blames in the 1967-70 Civil War, saying, “if I were in Ojukwu’s shoes, I would have picked arms to defend my people. When the first coup took place, Ojukwu was in Kano. He joined the Army as an Oxford trained graduate and made a lot of contributions. When soldiers carry out coups they share the posts among themselves. They don’t go out to look for the most qualified. Otherwise, Ojukwu should have probably been appointed the Head of State.”

Owerri stands still for Ojukwu
In Owerri, the day was ushered in by a strong but non-violent wind. This gradually snowballed into an early morning rain that started at about 3.05am, became heavier and poured till about 4am, a sure proof that even the heavens wept for the late Ikemba Nnewi.

The preparation for Ojukwu’s lying in state was elaborate. Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, was on top of it all, although he appointed a Local Organising Committee headed by the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Benjamin Uwajimogu.
Schools were closed. Market and government offices were similarly shut. Civil servants were ordered to head to the Heroes’ Square, Owerri, where the corpse was scheduled to arrive at 12noon. But this was delayed.

People got tired of waiting. Some went home, while the diehards, including scores of the members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, remained at the two major points— Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport and the Heroes’ Square. The early morning rain made the weather very clement throughout the day.

Eagle-eyed security personnel were everywhere. Vehicular movement into the arena was restricted but people defied all odds in their attempt to be part of the funeral ceremony of their departed leader.

They did not wait in vain. Signs of Ikemba’s arrival became evident, following the touch-down of an aircraft with registration number 5N-BCR at about 2.45pm. Dignitaries like the Governor Peter Obi, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Imo leader of APGA, Chief Martin Agbaso, alighted from the aircraft.

Welcome home
At 3pm a Nigeria Air Force jet, NAF 917, touched down at the airport. Governor Okorocha and some senior army officers alighted. Many wept like babies when no fewer than 10 army generals, who were fully clad in their ceremonial attire, lifted the casket bearing Ikemba Nnewi’s remains, accompanied by his widow, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, and some of his children.

President Jonathan had directed that the late Igbo leader be given full military burial.
The casket-bearing generals moved in consonance with the military music supplied by soldiers, who were on ground to add flavour to the event. The casket was moved to a waiting military ambulance, NA 459 EO.

Ojukwu goes Home: From left, First Lady Patience Jonathan paying tribute to Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu –Ojukwu at Abuja International Airport . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

The convoy then took off from the airport to Owerri town. The entire stretch from Imo Airport to Owerri was lined up by people, who wanted to catch a glimpse of the great man. The atmosphere was serene. The corpse made a brief stop-over at the Government House, Owerri, before being moved to the Ikemba Ojukwu Convention Centre

 R.I.P (The Genius)