THE storied town of Nnewi, in Nnewi-North Local Government of Anambra State witnessed the momentous event of the final internment on Friday of a late but yet revered son, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
The internment culminates months-long plans and activities to give the late icon of Igbo liberation a befitting burial, which by all means he got.
Present at the funeral was President Goodluck Jonathan and First Lady Patience Jonathan, who led the federal delegation to the event.
A previous event was held on Thursday at the popular Okpara Square in the city of Enugu, where foreign and local dignitaries arrived from as far away as Haiti to neighboring Ghana.
Speaking on Thursday was former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings, who pointed out poignantly that the realities that precipitated the civil war still exist in Nigeria.
Rawlings charged Nigerian leaders to promote the virtues that would ensure unity and sustained development, saying that it was what was required in the political and social interaction of the people.
Respected Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, who was the keynote speaker at the Thursday event, said Odumegwu-Ojukwu started his struggle early in life especially as it concerned the freedom of his people from injustice.
“He was a courageous leader that was able to promote unity among the Igbo tribe. He fought for equity, peace and justice in the country. Today, the question still remains whether Nigeria has taken decisive steps to address these issues,” he said
According to Soyinka, “such strong will and character is required for inhabitable environment and positive principles that would encourage productivity and development of nationhood. We require this spirit to move forward. We celebrate the fact that this is a time in man’s life when his page will be closed but his legacy will remember him. Odumegwu-Ojukwu has left us but his works live with us.”
If Thursday was a noteworthy event, Friday was even more momentous.
The town of Nnewi, where Ojukwu holds the revered traditional title of the Ikemba of Nnewi, throbbed as dignitaries from far and near came to honor the departed Ezeigbo Gburu-Gburu – which roughly interprets as the supreme leader of the Igbo race.
A well-attended Requiem Mass preceded the internment of the former civil war leader at St. Michael De-Archangel Catholic Church, Umudim Nnewi. Governors of the South East and South geo-political zones were also in attendance.
In a homily at the event, Bishop Emeritus Orlu Diocese, Bishop Gregory Ochiagha, thanked President Jonathan and the entire nation for giving Ojukwu a befitting burial.
He described Ojukwu as a selfless leader, saying he defended his people and ensured that justice was done to all.
President Jonathan, who was received alongside his wife by the host governor, Peter Obi, said in his condolence message that ““I am here with my wife to pay respects to our leader Ojukwu whose life symbolizes service to the people. May his soul rest in peace.”
One of Ojukwu’s older children, Chukwuemeka Jr., praised his late father’s virtues, describing him as “a champion of the people. Someone who stood up when the country needed somebody to stand up; and he did that selflessly”.
The Biafra leader’s son rejected the tag of “rebel” being associated with his dad for spearheading the botched secession of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria, which resulted in a 30-month long bloody uprising.
“My father was not a rebel. My father was a freedom fighter. He was a man that fought against injustice.”
Ojukwu died in a London hospital on November 26 after a protracted illness following a stroke. He was 78.