* APGA Assures Nigerians of Active Participation
Governors of states in the South-East on Sunday in Enugu resolved that the burial of former Biafran warlord, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, will hold on February 2, 2012.
Chairman of the governors forum, Gov. Peter Obi who disclosed this to told journalists shortly after their meeting, said the burial would hold in Enugu.
He said the forum also resolved to beef up security in the area.
“We discussed the irreplaceable loss of our dear leader, Dim Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu,and the security in the south-east.
“We deliberated on the date of the burial which we have all agreed will take place on Feb. 2, 2012 in Enugu, being the capital of the old South-Eastern Region.
“We also deliberated that every state and collectively will intensify on the security of lives and property within the zone,’’ Obi said.
The governor said a committee would soon be set up for the burial programme so as to make it a memorable one.
“When the committee is constituted, it will have other issues on the burial which its members will discuss. They will then brief us accordingly,’’ he said.
Govs Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Martins Elechi of Ebonyi, Theodore Orji of Abia and Sullivan Chime of Enugu were present at the meeting.
Meanwhile the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Sunday assured Nigerians of active participation in the burial of late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party and leader of defunct Biafra, died on Nov.26, in a London hospital.
Mr Iheanacho Oguejiofor, National Publicity Secretary of APGA, said the party would not bury Ojukwu alone, but would participate actively in his burial arrangements.
“There is no way APGA as a political party will say they want to bury Ojukwu, even his family cannot bury him alone, Ndigbo cannot do otherwise because he died as a national leader.
“So many groups are clamouring for his burial even the people in the Diaspora, but I want to assure you that Odimegwu-Ojukwu will be buried by all and sundry,’’.
He further said that serious consultations were still going on how the late leader would be laid to rest in a most remarkable manner.
Oguejiofor advised Nigerian leaders to emulate Odimegwu-Ojukwu’s character of a nation builder as well as his sense of patriotism.
He added that Odimegwu-Ojukwu was not associated with corruption in his life time, nothing that his services in both the military and in politics was neither indicted nor accused of corrupt practice.
He eulogised Odimegwu-Ojukwu for being courageous in a situation of deprivation, standing for the truth, humility, selfless service, patriotism, among others.