BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, TONY EDIKE & VINCENT UJUMADU
WITHOUT the support of late Elder statesman and former Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the oil-producing areas of the country would have cracked a tougher nut before achieving 13 per cent derivation, former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, has said.

Speaking at a special memorial lecture in honour of the defunct Biafran leader in Port Harcourt, Odili, who chaired the event, Ojukwu boldly canvassed for 13 per cent derivation at the National Constitutional Conference of 1994, convened by late General Sani Abacha.

Odili spoke as Enugu State Government unveiled a burial programme for late Igbo leader and leaders of Igbo traders from major markets in the 36 states of the country met in Awka, Anambra State yesterday with a decision to shut down all markets in the country on March 2, 2012 as a mark of respect for Odumegwu Ojukwu who would be buried that day at his home town, Nnewi.

Odili, Amaechi, Okocha eulogise Ojukwu

At the Port Harcourt ceremony, Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi leading lawyer O.C.J Okocha (SAN) spoke glowingly of the memories of Odumegwu Ojukwu, Odili recalled that he first had a hand shake with the late Ojukwu when he was Senior Prefect and Captain at Kings College, Lagos. He said he had the opportunity again when they both served in the 1994 constitutional conference.

Describing Ojukwu as a lover of justice, he said the Eze Igbo Gburugburu was on the side of the South-South during their agitation for 13 per cent derivation at the confab. “Ojukwu, myself and six others were members of the nine-man committee set up by the Conference to sort out issues on arguments around the derivation. Dim Ojukwu spoke boldly in favour of 13% derivation. He has written his name down as one who stood with the Niger Delta in her struggle for a better deal for the region”

Continuing, Dr Odlili, who lauded his successor, Governor Amaechi for his achievement so far in office, said the late Ojukwu fought for justice and fairness in the Nigerian state. He said the struggle for national unity and justice were among the challenges the late Ojukwu left behind for other generations.

On his part, Amaechi said Ojukwu lived to resist injustice and charged the Igbo nation and other Nigerians to be proud of him

Barrister Okocha, the 19th president of the Nigeria Bar Association, who gave the lecture on Eastern Region Reminiscence also said that Ojukwu fought against perceived injustice in the system.



Enugu releases funeral programme for Ojukwu

Releasing a programme of activities for the burial of Ojukwu yesterday, the Enugu State Government in a statement by the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr Eric Oluedo, said that the body of the late statesman would arrive the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu on Tuesday, February 28 to be received by Governor Sullivan Chime, members of the National and State Assemblies, Federal and State Executive Councils, Local Government Chairmen, Traditional Rulers, Igbo Elders, the Clergy and others.

According to the programme, a Requiem Mass will be celebrated in his honour at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 by 10 am.

This will be followed by an evening of tributes at the Enugu Sports Club.

Finally, on Thursday March 1, 2012, the body will arrive the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu by 10.30 am for a ceremony to be graced by the President and Commander –in –Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as well as other top government functionaries and prominent Nigerians from across the country.

The remains of the late statesman will thereafter depart Enugu for Awka, Anambra state en route his hometown Nnewi for interment on March 2.

Nigerian markets to close March 2

On the closure of markets for Ojukwu, President General of the South East Amalgamated Traders Association, SEAMATA, Chief Okwudili Ezenwaka, who led the market leaders on a courtesy call on the Special Adviser to Governor Peter Obi on Parks and Markets, Chief Sylvester Nwobu Alor, said a decision had earlier been taken that all markets in Anambra and Enugu states would be shut on March 1 to enable the traders participate actively in the burial ceremonies.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/how-ojukwu-fought-for-13-derivation-odili/

Nawa oo. Seems ppl are now willing to speak the truth. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it. RIP

Yeah, Ojukwu fought for everything. What a great p/e/d/o/p/h//i/l/e he was when he was alive!!! The world is  a better place . Now little girls all over Alaigbo can go about their business without fear of being r/a/p/e/d/ by some randy old man or forced into early marriage.

@ Igbadum. Man shut the 4k up u butt-hole. What little girl did Ojukwu rap.e? Foools like u will say anything for some attention. Bianca na ur mama? Grown woman chose to marry one of the most powerful men in Nigeria and u dey drink Tylenol. Mchew

udezue:

Nawa oo. Seems ppl are now willing to speak the truth. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it. RIP

GBAM this days people use ojukwus name when ever they want to talk about equality and justice

igbaodun:

Yeah, Ojukwu fought for everything. What a great p/e/d/o/p/h//i/l/e he was when he was alive!!! The world is  a better place . Now little girls all over Alaigbo can go about their business without fear of being r/a/p/e/d/ by some randy old man or forced into early marriage.

he is not as sick as your people impregnating their daughters 

Ojukwu in the mind of many a Nigerian would be forever remembered for the cherry of many under-aged girls he popped as a leader of a rag-tag Biafran army.

gradually we will get to the point where someone would suggest he crowned the queen of England!!!!

haka_nai:

gradually we will get to the point where someone would suggest he crowned the queen of England!!!!

He actually looks better as a woman; of course, thats with his mouth closed.

why is that anything that have to do with ojukwu pains yoruba people a lot, i just dont get it. ojukwu is a great man nobody can deny that ,yorubas on nairaland really need to stop shaming themselves.

T8ksy:

Yeah right, Ojukwu was a nationalist who fought for the freedom of the yorubas too.

See as everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to exploit Ojukwu's burial to remain relevant in nigerian

politics. wonder how many will even remember ojukwu this time next year.

Brain-dead monkey, this thread has nothing to do with the Yorugbas. Must you bring Yorugbas to every thread. Get a life and quit tribalism. Big f00l.

Yoruba people always putting their amala nose on things that don't concern them,awolowo didn't have the balls is only in prison he suffered for his people,so they should not talk when others are talking

Why do people tell lies about the dead? It was the same thing they did at whitney houston's funeral service.

otokx:

Why do people tell lies about the dead? It was the same thing they did at whitney houston's funeral service.

Thank you my Ikwerre brother

otokx:

Why do people tell lies about the dead? It was the same thing they did at whitney houston's funeral service.

Because it is the safest thing to do. The dead cant refute those made up lies. As far as my Ibo brothers are concerned Ike EBa created heaven and earth.

otokx:

Why do people tell lies about the dead? It was the same thing they did at whitney houston's funeral service.

what lies? where you in the meeting or is there anybody you knew that was in the meeting that disagree with him?

Im surprised that you are ikwerre as that two faced alh jarem said and talk like this, whom im sitting with right now is ikwerre too.
If their should be lies about this man now, it should be about the bad things he never did, remember he had more enemies than friends in Nigeria.

Toaskarity:

what lies? where you in the meeting or is there anybody you knew that was in the meeting that disagree with him?

Im surprised that you are ikwerre as that two faced alh jarem said and talk like this, whom im sitting with right now is ikwerre too.
If their should be lies about this man now, it should be about the bad things he never did, remember he had more enemies than friends in Nigeria.

I don't think he is Ikwerre,he is either okrika or kalabari.

Umu Igbo dont mind these Yoruba almajiris in NL they are sore loosers all their leaders have paid tribute to the great one and am very sure most of them will attend his burial to pay their final respect to Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, please let them be.

Who ever thinks that Ojukwu was not a member of the 9 man committee set up to address the issue of derivation should disprove it with fact or shut up.

I think some people like fstranger/igbaodun really have mental problem.

igbaodun:


Because it is the safest thing to do. The dead cant refute those made up lies. As far as my Ibo brothers are concerned Ike EBa created heaven and earth.

Your show of stupidity is becoming something else, watch it before you hurt yourself.

i think the laying in state of ojukwu should be in all the 9 east region state. while 2 state. look ojukwu was a man who was love by his people. why 2 state. they should carry in around the 9 state. it is the last time people get to see him,  why not make it big for people to see his body. awolowo body was taken around , when he die.

for a man like ojukwu, this is no more his family bury him, but the nation  should. the federal govt should provide money to them to carry him around.  even all the if possible.  nigeria has less than 5 people like ojukwu they can bury. ojukwu should not be bury like any ordinary, but like an hero. this bury arrangement will not go well with many people.

SURE! ojukwu was among the nine member committe

T8ksy:

Yeah right, Ojukwu was a nationalist who fought for the freedom of the yorubas too.

See as everyone is [b]jumping on the bandwagon to exploit Ojukwu's burial to remain relevant in nigerian

politics.[/b] wonder how many will even remember ojukwu this time next year.

Ojukwu is Truly a hero and every notable Nigerian needs him to remain Relevant

see bad belly

All this OFE NMANU people wit is it u people have wit IGBOs, why is dat anything about the only people dat are blessed by God in nigerian which are the IGBOs gives u people sleepless night, Well it is only time will tell,time shall come wen u people will look for IGBOs.

If Ojukwu fought for the 13% derivation as attested to by Odili, then Odili would be remembered for squadering the 13% derivation that acrued to Rivers people during his 8 years of cho-I-chop.


Can't people see what Rt. Hon.Amaechi has done so far in tranforming the State in less than 4 years notwithstanding that he is being distracted now as the Chairman of Gov Forum?

Odili should shut up or release the money that he and his cronies have looted that truely belongs to Rivers people. I wonder why no one is talking about this.

You mean Odili showed face in P.H and nobody was kind enough to put a bullet to his pungent smelling brain? I cry for 9jeria people sha

and just hear the smell oozing out of his mouth that that lame ass squid Ojukwu fought for what? That guy is so dumb, and just see how them they use igbo people play politics. i think those people are the most foolish set ever.

Another thing, Nigeria is a 4cked up country because people like Ojukwu in a sane nation are resigned to the trash cans of history. that kind of person is only worshipped by his folks and no one else.

diluminati:

You mean Odili showed face in P.H and nobody was kind enough to put a bullet to his pungent smelling brain? I cry for 9jeria people sha

and just hear the smell oozing out of his mouth that that lame Bottom squid Ojukwu fought for what? That guy is so dumb, and just see how them they use igbo people play politics. i think those people are the most foolish set ever.

Another thing, Nigeria is a 4cked up country because people like Ojukwu in a sane nation are resigned to the trash cans of history. that kind of person is only worshipped by his folks and no one else.

u should really stop d hating, y hatin on a dead man lyk this.no matter wot u say of ojukwu,he will 4ever remain a hero to dos that really know wot patriotism z ol about.i pray known men get to speak gud of u wen u die

WOW . . . . at this rate, this man is going to be made a god soon, and even claimed to have super powers . . . . Man, Nigerians na wa oo!!! And worse, the words of a wanted man? OK ooo!!

But then I am not surprised since I can still remember how people here made Yar adua seem a god when he finally died.