•He was committed to development of S’East – Obasanjo, Uzodimma
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor was laid to rest at his country home, Awo-Omamma in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State on Friday.
His body arrived in a motorcade at the Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri at about 9am, where a requiem mass was conducted and officiated by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Moses Chikwe and attended by the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, his wife and other top government functionaries in the state. Also in attendance were former ministers, Prof A.B.C Nwosu, Dr. Mrs. Kema Chikwe; former military governor of the state, Maj. Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (Retd), Dr Paschal Dozie, and Dr. A. B.C. Orjiakor, among others.
In his sermon, Bishop Chikwe reminded the congregation to leave a life worthy of emulation and always, “remember that we are all answerable to God.”
He said: “We’re all going to die one day, for Christians, it’s not the end; do the right thing, keep the commandment of God, we’re praying for him to go to the place he has yearned for so much.”
Many dignitaries at the occasion poured in their tributes to mark their last respects. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his tribute to the late Igbo leader, described him as an asset to the Nigerian Government, as he served as an ambassador to Israel and America.
“He served creditably well as an ambassador to Israel and the United States of America. The good work he did in both countries was a fitting complement to my administration’s painstaking efforts to re-make the international profile of our dear country.
“He was imbued with an undying love for his people, which informed his acceptance to serve as the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, so as to assist in ministering to, and advocating for their needs and truly, he was committed to the development and global vision of his people and the entire Southeastern region of Nigeria,” Obasanjo stated.
Uzodimma in his speech urged all to take solace in Obiozor’s active contributions to the uplift of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. For the governor, Obiozor had accomplished his mission on earth. He said: “We should bury our hatchets to give our foremost Igbo leader a befitting burial. I acknowledge the support of the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and others who stood by him, he would always be remembered as a great diplomat,” Uzodimma said.
Another Igbo leader, Mazi Halifax Nwaze said that Obiozor would be sorely missed. He noted that his rare leadership qualities and diplomatic finesse was needed ahead of the forthcoming polls and other challenges confronting Nigeria.
Elder statesman and Chairman of Imeobi Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu disclosed that Obiozor’s utmost wish was for a Nigeria president of Igbo extraction to emerge at the February 25 election.
According to Iwuanyanwu, Obiozor had wished that the zoning formula in the country be respected and a candidate from the South-East emerge as the president. He said that the former Ohanaeze PG was also of the opinion that the country should be restructured.
“Obiozor believed in one Nigeria where every person irrespective of tribe, religion, ethnicity will have opportunity to have peace, justice, equity, fairness, where people are not rewarded because of where they came from or what language they speak but because of their capacity, content of their character and ability.
“He also believed that this country is made up of so many ethnic nationalities, very vast, too big to be governed from one centre, Abuja, that’s why we talk about restructuring of this country. Obiozor talked about it and I believe that it is very critical for the survival of this country,” Iwuanyanwu said.
Speaking further on Obiozor’s wish, Iwuanyanwu said: “We, the Igbo, we believe in Nigeria, by our actions we have kept faith with one Nigeria, that’s why you see us everywhere. Unfortunately, there are some people who don’t like the Igbo, when it comes to election, they would say the Igbo will not be voted for, not because he is not capable or qualified but because he’s an Igbo.
“This is infuriating the younger ones, and these are the things that are pushing the younger ones to talk about Biafra, because they cannot be told by a country from their cradle that they can not aspire for higher positions, they can not make achievement because of their tribe.
“His last wish for Ndigbo is that they should vote; Igbo said that it’s their turn and this is the turn of Igbo due to the zoning formula. In a multi ethnic country like Nigeria where people have different cultures, we talk about zoning; we as mostly Christians marry one wife and we can’t get more than maybe two children and the other person by the virtue of his religion can marry more than one wife and can get more than eight children.
“That’s why we’re insisting on zoning by the six geo political zones of the South- East, North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-West and South-South and not North and South. The idea of saying North and South is selfish, a big ethnic group has not produced the presidency, Igbo are the people who fought for independence, Igbo have made efforts to promote the image of Nigeria, and they deserve to be president.”