AWKA—THE stage is set for tomorrow’s burial of elder statesman and former Military Administrator of Eastern Nigeria, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Icho Mmadu, a traditional search for the dead, which is a major rite before he can buried, took place yesterday at Nnewi.

And the government has beefed up security in Awka and Nnewi, which had an unusual police presence and helicopters were hovering around the two towns in readiness for the ‘return’ of Ikemba Nnewi.

To prepare Anambra for the influx of visitors, who will attend Eze Igbo Gburugburu’s burial, the state government yesterday cleared Awka and Nnewi streets of destitute. Ojukwu’s remains will arrive the state today. Construction workers were still working on Nnewi roads yesterday, especially the Nkwo Triangle area which would serve as the parking lot for vehicles.

This came as Anambra residents besieged markets to buy consumables following the government’s declaration of two-day holiday and the Biafran Zionist Movement, BZM, one of the groups agitating for the actualization of Biafra Republic, said yesterday that it would defy the Federal Government’s order banning hoisting of Biafran flags and playing its anthem during the burial ceremonies.

The Icho Mmadu ceremony was organised by the Nnewi Youth Forum in conjunction with the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, the Association of Igbo Youth Initiative Movement, AIYIM, and Okada Riders Union.

The procession was led by Ojukwu’s first son, Chief Sylvester Ojukwu and founder of AIYIM, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka. They marched through the Nkwo Nnewi triangle and all the major streets and quarters of the industrial town before entering Ojukwu’s compound.

Ezeonwuka said: “The over 10, 000 youths across the South-East, who took part in this Icho Mmadu is the traditional way of burying a fallen hero. We had to pass through the four corners of Nnewi as tradition demands. We even went where Ojukwu was born, chanting songs familiar to Ojukwu. Tonight (last night) we are going to do bonfires inside Ojukwu’s compound and the mourning songs with trumpet and drums will commence.”

Govt rids street of beggars

Some of the beggars took to their heels on sighting officials of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development who carried out the operation with a combined team of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.

Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Mrs. Ego Uzoezie, who supervised the operation, said the raid was in accordance with the wish of late Ojukwu when he was alive.

She 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 burial in Awka and Nnewi. He believed in hard work and had encouraged our people to work hard, hence we are striving to ensure that his wish is carried out”.

Market rush

The one-day work free day announced by the Anambra State government and two-day trade free days announced by traders in the South East for today and tomorrow to mark the burial of the late Ikemba Nnewi led to market-rush in the state yesterday.

The traders had announced the closure of all markets in Enugu and Anambra states today, while Igbo traders had devoted tomorrow as trade free day in all markets in the country.

BZM insists on hoisting Biafran flag

[b]BZM President, Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, said they would defy the Federal Government’s ban because Ojukwu made a will that he should be buried by Biafrans, adding that his group would carry out his wish to the letter at Nnewi tomorrow.

According to him, Ojukwu fought for a people and he should be buried by the people, arguing that Ojukwu being a symbol of Biafra, members of BZM would be failing in their duty if they obeyed the government order.

He said: “We will fly the Biafran flag in Enugu, Awka and Nnewi and we dare anybody to stop us. BZM is calling on all Biafrans to come out en masse on the day of Ojukwu’s burial with Biafran flags. We are not going to be violent and we want Nigerian authorities not to provoke us.

“The Nigerian government has no business in the burial arrangement and we see the action of the government so far since his body was brought back from abroad as a provocation of the Biafran people at large and Ndigbo in particular”.

“If government authorities insist on stopping us, they should prepare enough spaces in their prisons, cells and other holding places very well because on that day of the burial of Ojukwu, we are going to defy the order given by the army that Biafran flags would not be flown in public.

“After all these smokescreen ceremonies, Ojukwu would be reburied by the Biafran people in line with his will. The very people he led and fought for must be given the opportunity to bury him as it is unacceptable to us that those not accepted by Biafra are the ones burying him.”
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http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/ojukwu-govt-tightens-security-in-akwa-nnewi/

“The Nigerian government has no business in the burial arrangement and we see the action of the government so far since his body was brought back from abroad as a provocation of the Biafran people at large and Ndigbo in particular

The Government must be smoking some cheap weed

Who are they to tell us we can't fly our Biafran flag or how to bury our dead.

This just got my blood boiling with rage.

Our HERO must be buried with the flag of the REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA. . . . . .Land of the Rising Sun

To hell with that cursed "white slapped inbetween two green colour flag" . . . . . .Cursed entity/niGERia

Bump.

This is an apple time for MASSOB and ndigbo in general to show this faking nigerians that we are ready to secceed and hav our devloped country.


ndiigbo ogadiriririri unu n'mma

Awka the Capital City is set to receive the world.

I am already seeing some good renovations in unizik junction, awka. Good!

You have not seen anything, go to Arroma Junctn towards Judiciary up Alex Ekwueme Square it has been turned into Mecca of a sort.

Hahaha, na 2mrw na. Let the Nigerian military get dem guns ready we go see who go run

Hahahahaha! Nigeria V Biafra part 2