From Okwe Obi, Abuja
In a gesture resonating across Nigeria and beyond, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has been lauded for commissioning the Bruce Mayrock Memorial, a tribute that blends historical remembrance with a call for national healing.
In an open letter by the Director General of the Labour Party’s Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei, he commended Ambassador Ojukwu for her unwavering loyalty to the legacy of her late husband, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the revered leader of Biafra and a towering figure in Nigeria’s history.
Bruce Mayrock, the young American student, who tragically self-immolated in front of the United Nations headquarters in 1969 to protest global silence over the Biafran genocide, is now being memorialised on Nigerian soil.
Mayrock, despite being an outsider by nationality and culture, remains a symbol of international empathy and moral courage.
“This act is both historic and healing. It serves as a symbolic bridge between continents, between the past and the present, and between suppressed memory and emerging truth,” the letter said.
Ngogbehei also highlighted the significance of the memorial’s unveiling at a time when feelings of marginalisation still linger in the South East.
He said Ojukwu’s gesture, supported by members of the current Tinubu administration, is “a welcome development and a huge plus” for the Federal Government’s image among proponents of peace and unity.
“This action aligns with our core values: historical truth, social justice and inclusive national healing. It shows that even within today’s complex political climate, there are still voices within the government that remember who empathise and who are willing to act,” said Ngogbehei.
The Directorate pledged to support Ambassador Ojukwu’s initiative, particularly in educating Nigerian youth about the importance of historical memory and national reconciliation.
“Your courage, Your Excellency, serves as an enduring example to all Nigerians in public and private life,” the letter concluded.