From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
Tomorrow, the remains of Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Okwadike of Igbo Ukwu kingdom will return to the mother earth amidst pomp, pageantry and mixed feelings.
To many, the demise of the former governor of Anambra State calls for celebration in view of his age while to many, his death now has dealt a great blow to his immediate family, Anambra State and by extension, South East zone and Nigeria in general.
Dr. Ezeife died on December 14, 2023 at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja at the age of 86.
Spokesman of Ezeife dynasty, Rob Ezeife in a statement shortly after the demise of the foremost Igbo leader and Nigerian statesman, expressed sadness over the death of their patriarch.
“On behalf of the Ezeife Dynasty of Igbo-Ukwu, I wish to announce the promotion to glory of our most distinguished son, ‘Okwadike’, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former federal permanent secretary, a former governor of Anambra State, a former political adviser to ex-president and former presidential aspirant.”
Life and times of Ezeife
Dr. Chuwkwuemeka Ezeife who hailed from Igbo-Ukwu community, Aguata council area of Anambra State was born on November 20 1937. He was elected governor of Anambra State on the platform of Social Democratic Party, SDP in 1992 during Nigeria’s Third Republic.
He served as governor of Anambra State until November 1993 when former Nigerian military ruler, Sani Abacha, seized power at the centre. Ezeife was appointed a Special Adviser on Political Matters by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999.
His unfulfilled dreams
Before his death, Ezeife was at the forefront for the stabilization of the South East, leading various delegations to various stakeholders across the country on how to restore peace and harmony in the zone.
Prominent among his numerous advocacies was when he joined the late Chief Mbazulike Amaechi in a delegation to then President Muhammadu Buhari to seek the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Ezeife was until his death, the Chairman of Igbo Elders’ Consultative Forum (IECF) where he alongside others played prominent role in organising Igbo Consultative Assembly (ICA), a body of Igbo leaders and groups in the 19 Northern States.
As Ezeife journeys to eternity, his major unfinished and unfulfilled dreams were to see the integration of Igbo diverse cultural and economic identities and above all, to see to the freedom of the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
In November, 2021, Ezeife alongside other leaders of Ndigbo led by former Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi pressed again for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu to former President Muhamadu Buhari.
But, addressing Ezeife and his Igbo group, Buhari dashed the hopes of the leaders of the zone as it concerned the IPOB leader’s release by saying that their demands ran contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary.
“You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary. God has spared you, and given you a clear head at this age, with very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it.”
Buhari recalled when Kanu allegedly jumped bail, got arrested and was brought back to the country.
According to him, “I said the best thing was to subject him to the system. Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity.”
The group championed by late Amaechi and Ezeife described that situation in the Southeast as result of the continued incarceration of Kanu as “painful and pathetic,” lamenting that businesses have collapsed, education is crumbling, and there is fear everywhere.
They pleaded for a political, rather than military solution, requesting that if Kanu was released to them as highly respected leaders of the region, there would be peace and unity in the country.
“Nnamdi Kanu would no longer say the things he had been saying,” stressing that they could control him, “not because they had anything to do with them (IPOB), but as highly respected leaders in Igbo land today.”
Chief Amaechi and Ezeife had insisted that “we don’t want to leave this planet without peace returning to our country. We believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa. Mr President, we want you to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and you quenched the fire.”
Despite the advocacy to the former President Muhammadu Buhari which they continued immediately after President Bola Tinubu took over for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the hope of the release of Kanu hit the rocks.
Today, Ezeife who disclosed that the release of Kanu was his last wish, is being lowered in the grave without his cherished desire coming to fruition.