From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu has remained a hero since he led the people of Eastern Nigeria to a 30-month-old civil war between 1967-1970.
The 11th Ojukwu Day organised by the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Biafra and Biafra Independent Movement (MASSOB/BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, brought this to the fore once again.
As early as 8am on Saturday, November 26, 2022, thousands of MASSOB/BIM supporters from different parts of South East and South-South regions stormed the Ojukwu Library Arena, New Owerri, Imo State, to honour their idol who died in 2011. They came with banners and cultural troupes.
The event attracted notable Igbo leaders including the custodian of Igbo ancestry and Regent, Nri Kingdom, Prince Ikenna Onyenso; former coach of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, Fanny Amu; royal fathers and Biafra agitating groups from all parts of former Eastern Nigeria.
It was indeed a carnival-like atmosphere witnessing different parades, match pass, cultural displays, harvest offerings, dances and recreations of the life and times of Ojukwu.
Young inventors from different communities were also given opportunity to display their inventions, given them encouragement.
Remarkably, the sitting arrangement depicted a shadow government consisting of the ministers of God, Council of Elders, cabinet members, the Judiciary and Parliament, all decked in their special garbs and stayed in designated canopies.
Beyond the displays, speeches at the event brought the echoes of the Eze Igbo Gburugburu. Wife of the late Biafra leader, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, took a swipe on All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the political party her husband promoted, for not hosting any memorial for him all these years.
She did not spare the current crop of Igbo leaders as according to her, the region was in want of credible leaders. She stated that the spirit and the philosophy of her late husband are germane in the pending 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
She said what her husband stood and fought for, which were equity, justice, and peaceful coexistence are critical determinants that would shape the elections.
Bianca was emphatic that since the death of Ojukwu, Ndigbo has been lacking credible leaders who would speak for them: “Until 2023 we will remember that power has fallen when Dim Ojukwu died. We miss him particularly in Igbo land. Why do we miss him? It is because in Igbo land today we have deficit of credible leaders. What we have today in Igbo land are men who are not men.
“What we have today is one man down, one less competitor. That is why what is happening today in the country. We don’t have men who can stand up to speak for Ndigbo.
“At no time of the history of our people do we have the type of criminalities and criminals as we see on daily basis in Igbo land. Even during the war, we never heard or seen that people came out with knives to slice the throat and neck of another human being with pride.
“We are suffering a total system failure in economy, security, when a government can no longer guarantee lives and safety on the property and investments of the citizens.”
Her call for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), received a thunderous applause. She stated that no nation stifles the dreams of its citizens and expect peace: “I do so, firmly convinced that no nation can hold its people hostage and have peace. It is impossible because peace is freedom. Also no nation can hold the dreams of its citizens to ransom and prosper.”
She commended Uwazuruike’s effort in keeping the Ojukwu spirit alive by hosting the annual event and other activities, even as no South East state government has supported the endeavour.
Bianca announced the construction of Bruce Mayrock building in remembrance of the then 20 years old young American student who set himself ablaze in front of the United Nations building in New York on May 30, 1969, in protest against the genocide of Biafrans he had never met. She explained that the remembrance was not just for Ojukwu, but for every other Biafran war veteran and family who were victims of the war.
She noted that the skewed policies and programmes of the Federal Government dampened the spirit of patriotism in the citizenry: “Nobody can hold the Igbo spirit down. This is one truism many people have refused to appreciate. Ndigbo have always opted to hold our heads held very high, instead to die on our knees, begging.”
Bianca charged the people to hold their leaders to account for their deeds or misdeeds, actions or inactions during the 2023 general elections: “This is payback time. As we celebrate my late husband, we must also recall that there is no family in Igbo land that did not lose a single soul during the 30-month-old war. We will continue to remember all these people that died during that fratricidal war.”
For Amu, Ojukwu was the conscience of the nation as evidenced in what he stood for. He recalled his conversation with Ojukwu while his team camped at Rojenny Tourist Village, Oba, Anambra State in the ‘90s, saying the ex-Biafra leader was misunderstood: “All the Ikemba Nnewi wanted was a Nigeria where peace, equity and justice reigned.
“Bianca is a reflection of her husband, Ojukwu who preached peace. So, before this peace we are talking about would work, this woman, Bianca must be there on the roundtable. She represents peace.”
Traditional ruler of Okwe, Uwazuruike’s community in Onuimo, saluted those who have worked assiduously for the wellbeing of the Igbo, saying the memorial was an institution instituted by Uwazuruike, so, it shall not die.
Leader of the delegation from Ojukwu’s community in Nnewi, Anambra State, Martins Ndudekwu remarked: “It’s good to work hard and be conscientious. That’s why even after 11 years, Ojukwu’s memorial has not ceased. To be a hero is a big task. So, I am happy that my brother, Dim Ojukwu worked for it.”