THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012
4
NEWS EMEKA ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU (1933-2011) NEW YEAR MESSAGES
Atiku describes Ojukwu as a legend of all times
F
ORMER Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has described the late Dim Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu as a legend of all times. In a tribute to the National Burial Committee, Atiku said words such as “warlord,” “rebel leader,” “secessionist”, which have been used to described Ojukwu, do not really capture his achievements. He said: “Among the several stories that have been written about Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the piece I found particularly compelling was an archive interview republished after his unfortunate death on November 26, 2011. “Asked how he would like to be remembered, Ojukwu’s reply was poignant: ‘I would like to be remembered as a statesman; not just as a rebel leader. “Indeed, in a world increasingly obsessed with labels, we could so easily become defined by a single action that is by no means a true reflection of our outlook. So, it was common to find Ojukwu’s name almost always preceded by words such as “warlord,” “rebel leader,” or “secessionist.” He went on: “These words do little justice to a man who was the first Quartermaster-General of the Nigerian Army, a man who distinguished himself as a member of the Nigerian contingent to the United Nations peace-keeping effort in Congo, a man born into immense wealth and privilege but who never allowed that to dull his humanity and his appetite for service. “Those unflattering labels are products of a gross misunderstanding of the core values that define Ojukwu’s personality. The values were forged in humility, the sort that led the young Oxford alumnus to take up the job of an administrative officer in the colonial government – a rather humbling career start for the son of a millionaire! “Another value that resonates in Ojukwu’s remarkable life is the virtue of selflessness, a philosophy that recognises the imperative of service. That is the essential statesmanship; the capacity to place the common good above self, the capacity to stay dignified even in the face of adversity, the capacity for compromise and bipartisanship. “Above all, statesmanship requires an understanding that idealism and pragmatism are not mutu-
From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja
ally-exclusive. It is indeed difficult to say these of anyone else without tongue-in-cheek. But these values were embodied by the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dikedioramma (beloved hero of the masses). “Given the very fickle nature of humans and often unrealistic expectations, remaining a hero in the eyes of one’s people, for a lifetime, especially in our clime, is a near impossibility. It’s, however, gratifying to note that Ojukwu did not only draw accolades in death; he was just as well loved and idolised even more while he was alive. “But he didn’t achieve that feat by being eternally politically-correct. In fact, I doubt there was any conscious effort on his part to be seen as an icon; he emerged a hero by living by his convictions and demonstrating sufficient empathy for the people. “His foray into politics upon his return to the country in 1982 may have fallen short of the expectations of those who wanted him to stay out of politics, but his contributions to the rebirth of democracy and its sustenance cannot be contradicted. “His belief and commitment in the capacity of Nigerians to grow their own democracy without let and hindrance was underscored by his irritation at the military intervention that toppled the Shehu Shagari government in 1983 and led to his brief incarceration. “As a committed democrat, every single day under an un-elected government hurts me. The citizens of this country are mature enough to make their own choices, just as they have the right to make their own mistakes. “Today, the imperative of the handshake across the Niger he spoke so eloquently about still strike a resonant chord across the country. It’s a call that evidently repudiates all those hurtful stereotypes, which some tend to readily invoke when discussing the larger-than-life personality of Ojukwu. “The handshake across the Niger was a call to peace, a call to dialogue and a denunciation of hubris in all its form. We owe it as a duty to his memory to strive to enthrone those values that unite us. But, ultimately, this should not be at the expense of justice. It is a right to which we are all entitled.”
•From left: Wife of the late Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca, wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Margaret Obi, Southeast President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Archbishop Obi Onubogu of the Rock Family Church and Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. S.K.C. Uche, shortly after a requiem mass in honour of Ojukwu at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Ogui, Enugu…..yesterday
•General A.K Egwuagu and Chief Sunny Odogwu (left) during a symposium in honour of Ojukwu by Anioma people of Delta State at the Grand Hotel, Asaba... yesterday.
•From right: Bishop Okonkwo Gbuji, Secretary to Enugu State Government Okolo and Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly Eugene Odo…yesterday. PHOTO OBI CLETUS
•Governor Peter Obi (left), Senator Uche Chukwumerije (right) and Emeka OdumegwuOjukwu, Jnr (middle), inspecting the final phase of work at the Ojukwu Mausoleum, Nnewi... yesterday
Anambra evacuates 9,213 beggars for Ojukwu’s motorcade From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi
T
HERE was mild drama in some streets of Awka and Nnewi as Anambra State government yesterday evacuated beggars and suspected mentally deranged people. About 9,213 beggars and suspected mad people were evacuated. Some of the beggars ran away when a combined team of the police and other security agencies with government officials stormed the streets of Awka and Nnewi. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ego Cordelia Uzoezie, who supervised the exercise, said the raid was in accordance with the wish of the late Ojukwu. She said those evacuated would be taken to the state government rehabilitation centre at Nteje Skill Acquisition centres to acquire skills. Mrs. Uzoezie said: ‘’His Excellency, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu did not believe in Ndigbo begging for anything and his wish was that no beggar would litter the streets of the capital city and environs on the day of his motor train to Nnewi or his state burial in Awka. Again, he believed in hard work and had encouraged our people to work hard hence we are striving to ensure his wish is carried out’. ‘’This government of Governor Peter Obi has decided that no citizen of Anambra would be a beggar and you know that Her Excellency ensured that the 21 skill acquisition centres in the 21 local government areas are working for the benefit of women and youths. Then why should anybody be a beggar? ‘’This would enable us to know our citizens who are beggars and ascertain those who are into child hawking. We would repatriate non indigenes and rehabilitate our citizens who are beggars or mentally unbalanced and others would be engaged in learning a skill or the other.’’
From left: Mr. Guy Muray-Bruce, Comrade Joseph Evah, Eze Christian Nwachukwu, Eze Nna Emeka and Igwe Sunny Obiako during a programme tagged ‘Niger Delta Mouurns Ojukwu’ organised by the Ijaw Monitoring Group in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA
•Enugu State Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi, with the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Ogui, Enugu…..yesterday. With them is: Onyebuchi’s wife, Nneka.