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Bianca says ex-president stood by Igbo leader in life, death
From Magnus Eze, Owerri
Widow of the Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca, speakers and members of the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) and Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), yesterday, poured encomiums on former president, Goodluck Jonathan, for honouring the former Biafra leader, both in life and death.
They spoke at the 12th edition of Ojukwu Memorial Day 2023, which was dedicated to the former president.
Bianca said the central theme of this year’s celebration was gratitude; stressing that it was incumbent that they said ‘thank you’ to the former Nigerian leader, who she described as Godsend at the twilight of Ojukwu’s life.
She also applauded the former first lady, Patience Jonathan, noting that she did not only console and pray for her when Ojukwu died, but “visited me time and time again in sympathy and solidarity.”
Addressing a huge crowd at the Ojukwu Library Arena, Bianca said: “When Ojukwu suffered a stroke in December 2010, President Jonathan, in addition to dispatching medical personnel, flew down from Abuja to Enugu, sat by his bedside, and together with Prof Ike, his physician, prayed fervently for him.
“When he was flown abroad for emergency medical intervention, President Jonathan it was, who sent periodic ‘get well’ messages, and state officials every other month, starting with Idi Hong (minister of State for Health at the time) to meet with physicians and medical personnel at the London hospitals to check on his progress. When Dim Ojukwu passed away in the early hours of November 26, 2011, Jonathan deployed all necessary efforts towards state preparations, and towards ensuring the necessary formalities and every assistance required from our Embassy in London, with Dalhatu Tafida as its High Commissioner and Dozie Nwanna as deputy head of mission.
“Ojukwu was accorded a superlative burial fit for a warrior king, starting with a military ceremony on the grounds of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and a series of funeral events across 28 states of the federation, with lying in state ceremonies in all states of the South East, not to mention funeral masses and events in over 80 countries of the world.
“It is to the credit of fomer president Jonathan, and his compassionate wife, Dame Patience, who not only threw their weight behind this unprecedented undertaking, but participated fully in the events, all the way down to Ojukwu’s ancestral home at UmuDim, Nnewi for the final burial rites.
“Till date, it is on record that no other individual in this nation’s history has ever received a funeral of the nature of the pomp, splendour and circumstance as was accorded Ojukwu.”
She said the Igbo nation would be eternally indebted to Jonathan for having been able to accord “this unprecedented honour and care to our icon and our hero, regardless of tribe or creed, under a leadership uncontaminated by the prejudices of the past speaks volumes of your mettle.”
Ojukwu’s widow further said her spouse was indeed, blessed to “encounter a brother across the Niger at that bridge between life and death, and of a truth, you bestowed, not only upon him, but upon the entire Igbo nation, that parting gift of dignity at their icon’s most vulnerable moments. Your soothing balm spread across the grief of a people.”
Protus Uzoma, who delivered the lecture, said Ojukwu’s memorial was one of the greatest events in the South East. He said Ojukwu’s transcends time, urging that every Igbo person must learn the language of peace, unity and love.
According to Uzoma, Ojukwu is still alive because his philosophy lives after him.
Uzoma said: “He fought for the unity of this country, but the Igbo man is yet to be appreciated for the role he played, the principle of federal character must be maintained.
“The time has come for us to sit up, how many of our leaders can come together say Dim must be celebrated?”
