9th November, 2011
A group of Christians from the South East zone has extolled the virtues of Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Ikemba Nnewi, who recently turned 78.
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) celebrated the birthday of the ex-Biafran leader last Friday as a mark of respect.
Bishop Chinedu Okeke, representing the group under the aegis of Christian Association of (the outlawed) Biafra (CAB), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba on Tuesday, that Ojukwu was a special gift to Ndigbo from God.
He said Ojukwu sacrificed all he had, including his liberty, for the sake of Ndigbo during the Nigerian civil war.
Okeke said the Biafran warlord’s sacrifices had prompted CAB to mobilise Christians across the region to attend his 78th birthday, even as he was still sick in a London hospital.
He prayed for Ojukwu’s quick recovery and return to the country to re-unite with his people.
“Ikemba Nnewi was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, privileged to attend one of the best schools in the world. Yet he came back home and chose to be with his kit and kin and fought with all he had for their freedom and that is why we will remain eternally grateful to him.”