The celebration of the 78th birthday of Igbo leader Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu last weekend in Enugu saw politicians of various political persuasions jostling for attention, reports CHRIS OJI.
It was a befitting celebration of the 78th birthday of former Biafran leader Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu last weekend. It was at his Casabianca country home in Enugu, Enugu State.
The organiser and sponsor of the event, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who is also the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), had earlier warned politicians not to play politics with the celebration.
Uwazuruike, who at a pre-birthday press conference had said that Ojukwu’s name is an asset to any Igbo politician, and warned that the celebration should not be turned into an arena for political negotiations, advised that the occasion should be seen as spiritual with a view to offering prayers for his quick recovery now that he is lying ill outside the country.
To live up to that pla, interdenominational services were held simultaneously in all the South East and South South states. The home of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) leader, was swarmed by clergy men of different Christian denominations. There were no fewer than 40 men of God, including bishops and monsignors who struggled for space at the makeshift altar.
The MASSOB leader enjoined eminent personalities, particularly the governors, irrespective of their political leanings, and to all Ndigbo all over the world to join in the 78th birthday celebration and offer prayers for Ojukwu. He also enjoined those who may be indisposed to contribute their prayers wherever they are from 12 pm to 12.15 pm on Friday November 4, 2011 to offer just 15 minutes prayers for the ailing former Biafran leader.
Uwazuruike also tried not to reduce the celebration to an all MASSOB affair as he disclosed that Ojukwu is a great son of Ndigbo and “is a different Igbo leader. Unlike other Igbo leaders, he has a platform, he has Biafra, he has MASSOB and he has Uwazuruike.”
The birthday was a success as almost every inch of space in the vast compound of Casabianca Lodge was occupied by humans. Those outside, far outnumbered those within. One of the most popular gospel musicians in the South East, Felix Ndukwe, provided live renditions of new songs of Biafra and Ojukwu which he said, would be released before the end of November.
Various traditional dancers were in attendance; prominent among them were the popular war dancers common among the people of old Bende Division in Abia State and the acrobatic Nkpokiti dance from Umunze, Anambra State. Everybody present was ecstatic as they simultaneously provided musical entertainment.
However, with the exception of Senator Uche Chukwumerije, it appeared that members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boycotted the occasion. At least, all the five Southeast governors were expected to grace the occasion as the chief hosts. And the presence of Governors Peter Obi of Anambra State and Imo’s Rochas Okorocha made it look like an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) affair.
The other governors were absent. None sent in a representative. The scenario provided a cheap platform for the APGA governors to score major political points, but they never took the advantage. Obi who spoke only dwelt on the pitiable position of Ndigbo in present-day Nigeria as he recalled the position of Ndigbo in the past and asked where the place of Ndigbo in Nigeria is, at present. He insisted that Nigeria, today, stands on the past achievements of Ndigbo, adding that it was the Igbos who spearheaded the independence of Nigeria.
He recalled that in academics, the Igbos excelled, recalling that the first Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Prof. Kenneth Dike, was an Igbo, and that of the University of Lagos then, Prof. Eni Njoku.
Obi also recalled that the first president, vice-president, senate president of Nigeria were all Igbos including the first Army General and military Head of State. He added that the first Nigerian graduate soldier was an Igbo “and that is the man we are celebrating today.”
Obi further posited that the first man to live in Ikoyi was an Igbo and that was the father of Chief Ojukwu, adding that it was his Rolls Royce car that was used in driving around Queen Elizabeth of England when she visited Nigeria in the 50s. He urged Ndigbo to rise up and take a pre-eminent position in the country.
Obi finally threw in an innuendo, ostensibly to those who “shied” away from the birthday of the great son of Igboland: “We should not be ashamed of Ojukwu. If he is not the greatest son of Igboland, at least, he is one of the greatest.” According to him, it was Ojukwu who saw the threat of extinction facing Ndigbo and rose to the occasion to halt it, adding: “Every true Igbo must be proud of Ojukwu.”
One significant thing about the occasion was that Chief Victor Umeh was presented as the authentic chairman of the APGA. Other claimants to the control of the party were “unavoidably” absent. Umeh was seen taking control of everything while relating well with two APGA governors present.
The organiser of the celebration, Uwazuruike, did not make any comment at the occasion, lest it be seen as a MASSOB affair. Rather, the Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Rt. Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma brought Uwazuruike to the rostrum and declared him the Okenwa (great son) of Igboland.
The bishop told the large crowd of how Uwazuruike saved Ojukwu’s wife from being driven out of Casabianca Lodge by some elements who once declared Ojukwu dead. The persons, whom he did not name, arrived and asked Ojukwu’s wife to pack her bag and baggage because they “were the heirs to Ojukwu.”
“But Uwazuruike got the wind and immediately mobilised and dispatched MASSOB members who came to the rescue of the woman and secured the house. You people have not heard this story. I am just telling it to you now,” said Bishop Chukwuma amid thunderous applause.
And when Uwazuruike was asked to give a vote of thanks, he insisted that it was Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca who should do that. Bianca climbed the rostrum, Uwazuruike stood beside her as she addressed the crowd in an unblemished Igbo dialect. Bianca continually praised Uwazuruike all-through. Always referring to him as Okenwa, she told the crowd that comprised the publisher of Champion Newspaper, Chief Emmanuel
Iwuanyanwu; former governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige; former governor of Imo state, Chief
Ikedi Ohakim; former Central Bank governor, Prof. Charles Soludo and Umeh, that it was Uwazuruike who single-handed planned and organised the 78th birthday celebration of her husband.
She told the cheering crowd that “Ezeigbo (Ojukwu) is home-sick. He is eager to come back home because he loves Nigeria and his people. It is a miracle that after almost one year, Ezeigbo fought and said no to death.
“He has shown that he is a true General by his determination to live. Even the hospital workers in London refer to him as General whenever he visits for routine check.”
Bianca gave praises to God for keeping her husband alive and submitted that it was through the prayers of the people that God mercifully granted him life up till this day.
She said: “If my husband were to be here and see this crowd, he would definitely jump out of his sick bed. He would have been totally healed.”
She thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife for their concern over the health of Ojukwu by keeping in constant touch with them in London. More of the thanks went to Governor Obi whom she said, sponsored the London trip and was always in London to see the ailing leader.
