The host governor, Fashola, reiterated the need for Nigeria to be a peaceful, united and prosperous country where no one would be maltreated on the basis of tribe, tongue and religion by learning useful lessons from the civil war.

Noting that the civil war was not about secession but about Ojukwu’s love for his people, Fashola said Ojukwu was a detribalised Nigerian who did not love Nigeria less but loved his people more. Stressing the need for a united Nigeria and praying against another civil war in the country, the governor said Ojukwu would not have been happy if Igbo people came to mourn him in Lagos by obtaining visa because Nigeria had disintegrated. Noting that Ojukwu’s exploits could not be forgotten in a hurry, he said the late elder statesman was one of the greatest apostles of true federalism and a Generals’ General, who fought hard for what he believed in, Fashola said Nigeria’s history would be incomplete without a glowing mention of Ojukwu’s role. He described Odumegwu-Ojukwu as a rebel with a cause who did not necessarily pursue a secessionist agenda, but only fought for justice. He said that Nigeria would be a better place if its leaders emulated Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s leadership qualities, adding, “Nigerians should use the lessons from the civil war to strengthen the unity of the country.’’

Adebayo pays tributes


Speaking on the life and times of the ex-Biafran warlord, General Adebayo, who recalled how he convinced Ojukwu to join the Army at a ceremony in Umuahia where Ojukwu was Assistant District Officer after his return from Oxford University with a Degree, said he would miss Ojukwu because “he was a great loyal officer from the day he joined the Army.”

What I learnt from Ojukwu – Nwachukwu

To Nwachukwu, who recalled that Ojukwu was his commanding officer at his Battalion in Kano, said Ojukwu taught him that what made one a great soldier were not guns but the ability to convince people through knowledge and intellect.

“I speak of my commanding officer, Col Odumegwu-Ojukwu. I was brand new from the military academy in Canada, posted to 5 Battalion in Kano, when he joined our battalion as commanding officer. Ojukwu was a fine officer, an officer we could all emulate. Let me say, I emulated. An officer, whose loyalty you couldn’t doubt. A man who was caring, a man, who as young officer said that totting gun would not make you an officer. ‘What makes you an officer is your knowledge, your ability to convince your people to follow you into difficulty.’

“I buy all of those from him. Ojukwu could convince you using his knowledge at the time to do exactly what you wouldn’t want to do. For instance, when the first coup occurred, my battalion in Kano was not so much in support of it. I was posted to take command and to defend the Airport in Kano with my orders at the time not to allow any plane to take-off or land. But fortunately or unfortunately, an Airforce plane came in that was carrying Major Olusegun Obasanjo at the time.

With a message before Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who was my battalion commander, I led the plane down against orders, rounded them up, surrounded Obasanjo like an armed robber, drove them to my battalion headquarters, handed him over and returned to my duty post. Later on, I was told to come back and when I did, I was told to take Major Obasanjo back to the airport. I put him in the back of the Land Rover and took him to the Airport and he flew up. The following morning, Ojukwu flew in an Airforce plane and was appointed the military governor of old Eastern Nigeria. I did not see him from then on until he returned from exile.”

Ojukwu’s life mirrors Nigeria – Chukwumerije

Vice Chairman of the Odumegwu-Ojukwu burial committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, started his tributes by offering apologies on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee, Rt Hon Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, who could not come because of illness.

He described the Lagos ceremony as a homing of sorts for Ojukwu and all Nigerians.



His words: “The funeral train represented by the steering committee has been to a few places in Nigeria and has still a few more places to go. We regard Lagos as very peculiar, very different from many places we have been to because we regard our coming to Lagos as a home-coming.

A home-coming not just for Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu but also for Nigerians. It is home-coming to Ojukwu because Lagos was virtually the first home of Ojukwu. He knew and fluently spoke Yoruba even before his native language, Igbo. Those who know Ojukwu would recall that the fondest childhood  memories of Ojukwu were all rooted in Lagos environment. The cosmopolitan and detribalised values into which Ojukwu was socialised gave up Lagos State among other places. So, we see our coming today as a big home coming for Ojukwu. And the Ikemba, wherever he is, his spirit will be very much excited that the love which he had consistently shown to Lagos State is being reciprocated today by this wonderful reception organised for him by Lagos.

“It is also a good home-coming for Nigerians because the period, in which Ojukwu grew up as Nigerian patriot was the period that marked the highlights of Nigeria as a federal state. People remember that from that period to today, Nigeria has been on the decline. If you looked at the life of Ojukwu, from the time of his stay in Lagos through his career in the Army to the period in which Ojukwu and his people were rejected by the Nigerian system to the time of reconciliation, you will note one condition: Ojukwu’s personal life mirrors the life and times of Nigeria.”

Odogwu, Dozie speak

To Odogwu, the problems Ojukwu fought were still there and needed to be addressed. “Nigeria is still looking for direction. Inequity and social injustice he fought against are still there. I urge Nigerians and the leadership to correct structural deficiencies and social injustice.”

Dozie concurred with this view, adding that the solutions Ojukwu proffered for peaceful co-existence and unity of Nigeria were still germane.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/lagos-reclaims-ojukwu/

lame

I agree with Fashola. We must learn how not to prosecute a war with archaic instruments and a pe/d/o/p/h/i/l/e as a leader.