President Goodluck Jonathan said he received
with much sadness and a deep feeling of great
national loss news of the passing away of Chief
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in the United
Kingdom.
He said Ojukwu lived a most fulfilled life and had
in passing on left behind a record of very notable
contributions to the evolution of modern Nigeria,
which will assure his place in the history of this
country.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser to the
President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben
Abati, the President said he joined Ojukwu’s
family, the government and people of Anambra,
his home state, the entire Igbo people of Nigeria
and his friends, associates and followers across
the country in mourning him.
According to the statement, “President Jonathan
believes that the late Chief Ojukwu’s immense
love for his people, justice, equity and fairness,
which forced him into the leading role he played
in the Nigerian civil war, as well as his
commitment to reconciliation and the full
reintegration of his people into a united and
progressive Nigeria in the aftermath of the war,
will ensure he is remembered forever as one of
the great personalities of his time, who stood out
easily as a brave, courageous, fearless, erudite
and charismatic leader.
“He prays that God Almighty will grant Chief
Ojukwu’s soul eternal rest from his earthly
labours.”
A bright, courageous military officer -Gov
Uduaghan
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has
expressed shock at the untimely death of Ikemba
Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Governor Uduaghan lamented the death of Chief
Ojukwu as a sad loss to the country whose initial
news of recovery had gladdened his heart, only
for the shock announcement of his demise.
Governor Uduaghan in a condolence message to
the family, government and people of Anambra
State recalled that he was in his lifetime a
colossus, who made significant contributions to
the growth and development of the country.
“Chief Ojukwu was in his lifetime a bright and
courageous military officer, politician of immense
talent, capable administrator, who even though
led a secessionist struggle, came back from exile
to participate in deepening the process of healing
and reconciliation of the country.
“Ojukwu until his death was a strong proponent
of handshake across the Niger, a vision he
promoted to reconcile the peoples of the South-
South and South East as part of efforts to heal the
wounds of the civil war. I am sure history will be
kind to him,” Governor Uduaghan said.
A national icon is gone -Chime
Governor Sullivan Chime has expressed profound
shock and sorrow over the death of former
Biafran leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, saying
his passage has robbed the country of one her
most notable historical and political figures.
The governor in a statement signed by his Chief
Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, described
Ojukwu as a foremost nationalist and activist
whose contributions to the political and
constitutional development of the country are not
only indelible but in some ways inimitable.
He further described the deceased as a symbol of
the struggle against injustice, segregation and
oppression against any group of people in the
country, adding that his epic efforts had helped to
lay the foundation for national integration and the
sense of equality and unity that prevails in the
country today.
He said Ojukwu was an icon who, despite his
affluent background, was never afraid to speak
out on critical national issues or challenge policies
that tended to infringe on the rights of the people,
adding that this disposition had helped him
remain a highly influential and charismatic political
figure in his lifetime.
“The history of this country cannot be complete
without profound mention of the contributions of
Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. He
was a vocal and forceful advocate against
injustice and oppression, an activist who was
prepared to risk all, including his life, to ensure
that everyone was accorded his rightful place and
due. He was a friend to all who believed in
national integration and equality of all races.
Nigeria will certainly miss him.”
He fought for justice -Sam Egwu (ex gov, Ebonyi
State)
It is a great loss both to the Igbo and Nigeria
generally. He was a man specially created to
work for the nation. He fought for justice and
was never intimidated. He was Ndigbo’s true
leader. We will miss his absence.
He was Nigeria’s MC-General -Adegbite
He was Nigeria’s MC-General. He was very, very
useful to Nigeria, he was always on the side of
justice. He never shied away from speaking his
mind on any matter concerning the country. It is
unfortunate that he died at a time when the
country needs honest contributions from people
like him.
It is really painful -Leo Stan
Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a
great man, he stood for justice, he was a voice to
the voiceless. He acted always in the interest of
the country and the Igbo in particular. He left a
legacy for us to follow. I pray God to grant him
eternal rest.
It’s a national loss -Tony Momoh
He will be remembered as one who registered
contempt for injustice in Nigeria. Ojukwu was
one of the authors of true federalism. He fought
for the unity of Nigeria all the way. The way
Ojukwu was treated in the hospital was really
disgraceful. It is a challenge for us to honour
those who have contributed to the growth of the
country. What Ojukwu saw many decades ago
is what we are still seeing today. He was a patriot.
A man most loved by his people -Etiaba
News of Ojukwu’s death is devastating not only
to the Igbo race in particular but Nigerians in
general.
His exit at a time like this is depressing
considering that the Nigeria of his dream, where
equality, equity, accountability and probity will be
enthroned has not crystallized.
As a leader, he would go down our history as a
man most loved by his people. He represented
the aspiration of his people and never
compromised their interest.
Left a stamp in defence of the Igbo -Ralph
Uwechue
President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Amb.
Ralph Uwechue, has described the death of
Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, as the “passing of an age in
the chequered history of the Igbo nation.”
Uwechue told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
in a telephone interview in Enugu on Saturday
that the Ikemba Nnewi had left a most significant
stamp in defence of the Igbo race.
“As a leader, he has left a most significant stamp
in the courageous defence of the Igbo nation,” he
said.
While praying for the repose of his soul,
Uwechue said Odumegwu-Ojukwu would be
missed by the Igbo, the country and Africa in
general.
Deserves national burial –Ayogu Eze
Chairman of Senate Committee on Works, Chief
Ayogu Eze, said the Igbo nation had lost one of
its major leaders.
“After the unfortunate civil war, he subordinated
as a peacemaker, nation-builder, opinion leader,
defender of history and stood with the Igbo
people till his last breath,’’ Eze said.
The senator, however, said he deserved a
national burial.
A Nigerian hero -Nwadinobi
President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce,
Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr.
Okechukwu Nwadinobi, said Ojukwu was an
Igbo icon and a Nigerian hero.
According to him, the Ikemba lived an active and
eventful life and history will obviously put him in
his rightful place. “He was an active political
player,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, A cross section of Enugu residents
have expressed shock over death of the Biafrian
in a London hospital.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
while some doubted the news, others described
his demise as a great loss to the Igbo in
particular, and Nigeria and Africa at large.
Mr. Chimezie Iloka, who hails from Nnewi, the
home town of Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described
the death as “one death too many”, which has
created a big vacuum in Nnewi.
“If this is true, you know that Ndigbo have lost
their uniting figure, a hero and a man who until
his death had continued to champion the cause of
the Igbo man.
“Ojukwu is a detribalised Nigerian, who believed
in equal rights, fair play, justice and respect for
the rule of law,” Iloka said.
Mrs. Chinelo Ezenekwe, a legal practitioner, said
with the death of Ojukwu the nation had lost a
rare gem that used his wealth of knowledge to
fight injustice.
“She described him as an institution that needed
to be under-studied to tap his vast knowledge
and experience with which he sustained the Igbo
during the civil war.
``There is no two Ojukwu in Igboland. He was a
man of many parts whose death means the close
of an era,’’ Ezenekwe said.
Oyinlola mourns Ojukwu
Former Osun state Governor, Prince Olagunsoye
Oyinlola has also described the death of Ikemba
Odumegwu Ojukwu as a great national loss.
Prince Oyinlola in his condolence message
described Ojukwu as a leader with an
immeasurable love for his people.
While saying that Ojukwu’s place in Nigerian
history is assured, Prince Oyinlola challenged
Nigerians to learn lessons from the life of service
the late Chief Ojukwu lived.
He noted that the fact that Ojukwu was born with
a silver spoon never prevented him from
pursuing a career in the military which
transformed him into a man of history.
Prince Oyinlola prayed God to grant the soul of
the deceased etrrnal repose and fortitude to all he
left behind.