THE House of Representatives yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immortalise Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, while it resolved to send a high-powered delegation to commiserate with his wife, Bianca and other members of his family.
The call came following the unanimous adoption of a motion by Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Uche Ekwunife, who also expressed the need for Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s lifetime contribution to nation building to be documented in libraries and archives, for the benefit of future generations.
But the Imo House of Assembly has passed a motion urging the state government to name important areas after Odumegwu-Ojukwu in view of his contributions to Nigeria’s development . The member representing Ikeduru, Chief Samuel Anyanwu, made the proposal and it was approved.
Also, the Anambra House of Assembly has passed a motion, calling on the state government to declare November 26 of every year as Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s day. The motion sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Tony Ezekwelu and 23 others, was overwhelmingly supported.
They called on the state and the Federal Governments to name some monuments after him.
Meanwhile, Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s remains would remain in London till January next year when the family would have concluded arrangements on his burial date.
Also, Odumegwu Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca and other family members who had been in London since his death are expected back to the country from London on Saturday to continue consultations on his burial rites.
National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh, who disclosed this to reporters in Enugu shortly on arrival from London yesterday said that the body had been deposited in a morgue.
He said: “Ojukwu’s corpse will remain in London till the burial date is fixed. The corpse will be brought back to Nigeria in January next year when we are sure we have fixed the date of burial. This is part of other decisions we reached during a meeting in London”.
Asked why such decision was reached, he said that such would help curtail the inflow of people who might want to visit any mortuary in the country where it could be lodged, when it was evacuated from London, stressing that such would also guarantee the security of the corpse.