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.
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