Abia State Governor Theodore Orji yesterday said he was happy to have ensured that one of the last wishes of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was fulfilled.
Orji said Ojukwu had requested that his body be brought to Aba before burial.
The governor, who spoke at a lying-in-state ceremony for Ojukwu at the Aba Township Stadium , said: “We are honouring the late Ojukwu by bringing him to Aba as one of his last wishes. He pleaded to be brought to this great commercial city when ever he dies and now it is the turn of Abia State to observe the burial rite, which is why Aba is the venue.”
He described the late Ojukwu as a detribalised man, who was born in Zungeru in the North, brought up in the West and ruled the Eastern region, which is his place of origin. He said: “One can see that he came into this world fully prepared to serve the people.
“He chose to leave his wealthy background to fight for the right of his people, even putting the wealth of his father in the course of the fight for justice for his people. This shows that wealth means little or nothing to him.”
Orji said when the centre could no longer hold, Ojukwu led his people to war to fight for justice, adding that the war opened the eyes of the people.
Anambra State Governor Peter Obi said he is overwhelmed with the kind honour people have been giving Ojukwu both within and outside the country since his death, stressing that his name has become synonymous with justice.
Obi advised Nigerians to emulate what Ojukwu lived for, saying:“we must move beyond mouthing of slogans about Ikemba, as he was married to justice and helped to turn those his ideals into what will be of benefit to humanity by living them out.”
Spokesman of the surviving members of the 5th Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Kano, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, said while facing Ojukwu’s body: “I want to say that you were the best officer we ever had, as you taught how to speak, behave and respect the senior officers.
“I am talking about my commander, Lt Col. Emeka Ojukwu who was the commander of the 5th battalion Kano, who taught us that soldiering was not only about being brutish, also include being both alert and using our intelligence to achieve results.”
The ceremony was attended by three governors, Orji, Obi and Rochas Okorocha. (the nation)
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