Ojukwu: Showers Of Tributes In Lagos, Igbo Traders Shut Shops

Update: Tinubu also pays tribute

Eminent Nigerians this morning, gathered at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, where they showered tributes on the late Dim Chukwu Odumegwu Ojukwu.

The dignitaries include; the former governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Deputy governor of Anambra State, Emeka Sibeudu, Chief Dibe Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. Laz Lazarus, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, Niyi Adebayo, former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Tunji Braithwaite, Dr. Sylvanus Ebigwei, President, Aka Ekenga, Rafiu Ladipo and Ambassador Segun Olusola.

Others are Prof Pat Utomi, Pascal Dozie, Chris Eze, Emeka Obasi, Bisi Olatilo, Dr. Paddy Njoku, foremost politicians, captains of industry among others.

Speaking on the life and times of the ex-Biafran warlord, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, described the late Ojukwu as a consummate soldier and inspiring administrator whose political views will be greatly missed in Nigeria.

“Ojukwu was a consummate soldier, a very inspiring administrator, an icon of integrity and a commitment to his people and the country. His political views will be greatly missed,” he said.

Asiwaju Tinubu said after the three founding fathers of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello, no other person captured the Nigerian narrative more than Ikemba Nnewi, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

Asiwaju Tinubu said though the late Ojukwu meant different things to different people, there was no doubt that he cemented his place in Nigerian history by a dint of hard work and sheer commitment to his beliefs.He regretted that though Ojukwu’s birth and life would have made him the quintessential Nigerian citizen, born in the North, settled in Lagos and of Igbo stock, he was a victim of a Nigerian crisis of nationhood.

He said Nigerian patriotism should not be incompatible with one’s ethnic reality.

“Ojukwu was truly a product of the flawed attempt to be a good Nigerian without first being good Igboman, Hausa woman or Yoruba child,” Tinubu explained. “It makes more pragmatic sense to build Nigerian patriotism on those common values and virtues that are not in any way against the values of Nigerian patriotism. If Ojukwu is viewed from that new prism,” he added, “it would be clear that he was both a worthy Igboman as well as a worthy Nigerian.”

Quoting the words of Robert Green Ingersoll at this brother’s grave, Asiwaju Tinubu said of Ojukwu and his differing perceptions: “This brave and tender man in every storm of life was oak and rock, but in the sunshine he was vine and flower. He was a friend of all heroic souls.”

Chief Laz Lazarus described him as a great man who fought for justice, equity and fairness.

He said: “ Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu was a great man. He fought for what some of us believed in. He stands for equity, justice and fairness.

The former governor of Ekiti State on the platform of Alliance for Democracy, AD, Niyi Adebayo, described him as a charismatic leader and one of the greatest people that ever came out of Nigeria.

“He was a charismatic leader and one of the greatest people that has ever come out of Nigeria. The history of Nigeria cannot be complete without stating the contribution of Ojukwu. The federal government has its own way of honouring its dead heroes and I have no doubt that he will be honoured as well,” he said.

His son, Chief Dibe Odumegwu Ojukwu described his father as a great and courageous man who led the Igbos transparently, adding that it will be very difficult to get someone that will fill the vaccum he left behind.

Etsu Nupe, Lagos chapter, Alhaji Jubril Magaji, described Ojukwu as a man that wanted a united Nigeria, whom after losing the Biafran war came back to reconcile with those he fought against. The event was ongoing at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, response to the instruction from Ohaneze Ndigbo, Igbo traders in Lagos and those at the popular Computer Village, Ikeja, this morning observed a partial closure of their shops to honour Ojukwu whose rite of passage has commenced.

Speaking with P.M.NEWS this morning, chairman of the market’s Phone and Allied Dealers’ Association, Ike Nwosu said Ohaneze Ndigbo gave the order that all markets where there are many Igbo traders should close shops today and devote time to honour the Eze Igbo Gburugburu, Chief Ojukwu.

Nwosu said other markets in other states in Nigeria have been closed for the late Biafra leader, adding that it is the turn of Igbo traders in Lagos to honour Ojukwu.

However, since there are Yoruba and other traders at the Ikeja Computer Village, some traders opened shops and were attending to customers when P.M.NEWS visited the market this morning.

Major stakeholders at the Computer Village who opened for business this morning include SLOT, Samsung and Nokia.

But the majority of the other traders mostly Igbos wore their T-shirts and were heading towards Tafawa Balewa Square, venue of a programme in honour of Ojukwu when P.M.NEWS correspondent was visited the Computer Village.

According to reports by our correspondents, other markets in Lagos where their traders obeyed the order to close shop include Ladipo Spare Parts Market, Alaba International Market and Trade Fair Market.

The Rivers State Government announced the postponement of the public lecture in honour of the late Ojukwu, earlier slated for today.

The new date is tomorrow at 9 a.m.. The venue for the public lecture in honour of Odumegwu Ojukwu is still at the Auditorium of the Rivers State House of Assembly along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

Mrs. Ibim Semenitari announced the postponement to Government House Press Corps at the close of the state Executive Council meeting. No reason was given for the shift.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Worgu Boms who represents the State Governor Rotimi Amaechi in the Central Planning Committee for Ojukwu’s burial had earlier announced that there will be a public lecture on Tuesday during a media briefing at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Those expected at the lecture are the Governors of the former Eastern Region comprising Rivers, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra and Bayelsa states.

The lecture will be delivered by former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh, while former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Onueze Okocha will also deliver a paper. According to Wogu Boms.

The lecture is titled: “Eastern Region: Reminiscences”

—Jamiu Yisa, Henry Ojelu, Cyriacus Izuekwe & Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt