- Given full military honours
- His wish for Igbos, his unfulfilled ambitions
By Richard Ihediwa, Julius Ogar, Abuja
Thousands of mourners including President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors, top government functionaries, members of the international community including former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings attended the final funeral ceremonies and internment of late former Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu yesterday in his home town, Nnewi, Anambra state
Ojukwu was buried with full military honours in his home town of Nnewi in Anambra state after several funeral ceremonies in Abuja and the five south east states of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra. Many other states of the federation also held ceremonies in honour of Ojukwu who died November, last year at the age of 78 after a long illness.
Ahead of the burial yesterday, his coffin, draped in the Nigerian flag was transported around the country after it was flown from London to Nigeria on Monday.
Ojukwu’s remains were lowered into a grave in his palatial residence, after a requiem mass was held at the next door St. Michael De Arch-angel Catholic Church.
The military was in charge of proceedings during the burial programme, with a parade and military songs performed in the late colonel's honour.
Ojukwu’s funeral, which has been adjudged the most elaborate in the history of the country commanded the kind of global attention he had.
Family members, villagers, politicians and Biafra war veterans took turns to file pass the golden casket which was kept at an open space in the family compound, where female mourners dressed in garments printed with Col Ojukwu's portrait sang.
Security was tight and guests allowed into the compound, decorated with the logos of his political party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, were screened by the anti-bomb squad.
Outside in the town, young men played their traditional drums and danced along the major roads, while all commercial activity grounded to a halt.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Jonathan eulogised Ojukwu describing him as a man who saw beyond his contemporaries. He also said Ojukwu had “immense love for his people, justice, equity and fairness which forced him into the leading role he played in the Nigerian civil war".
Also other leaders including state governors took turns to eulogise Ojukwu before he was finally buried.
Meanwhile commercial activities in the five south east states were grounded to a halt as businesses and markets remained closed in the region in honour of Ojukwu. Also south easterners in other parts of the country also shut their businesses to honour the late leader.
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Bravery of Ikemba odimegwu ojukwu. All I have really heard about him were stories from
My grandmother who dosent believe that there is any hero greater than Ojukwu, she even has a special song for him. As a kid I used to be both amused and amazed at how grandma holds him to so much reverence and sing his praises. I never inquired deeper him . It is not until now that I understood that he fought and sacrificed so that I could have freedom as an Igbo. I feel sad now that I never realized until his death that he was my own Martin Luther king, Nelson Mandela and all other heros abroad that we read about. I wish I had an oporturnity to tell him thanks. All the same thank you Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu. Rest in perfect peace. May your light continue to inspire us.
Also thanks to Beautiful Bianca for bringing so much beauty to Our Hero's life, may God give you strength at this time and always.