Odumegwu-Ojukwu: ‘Obi Paid Burial Bills’

Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu

Chairman, Outreach and Contact, Ojukwu Burial Committee, Senator Ben Obi, has commended the pivotal role played by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State in giving former Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a befitting burial.

Obi, who was speaking to journalists in Awka Sunday , said while the governors of the former Eastern States decided to collectively finance the burial ceremony of the late Ikemba, Obi took singular and personal responsibility in ensuring that the burial committee was never challenged by lack of funds in executing its various programmes.

He explained that Obi in addition, gave the needed assistance and support in contacting various Heads of Government and some dignitaries across the world.

“Even when it appeared to him that things might not be progressing satisfactorily, he always met with the Committee to streamline things. Most importantly, he personally participated at the major events that formed part of the burial rites,” Obi said.

Obi recalled that the governor also took full responsibility in paying the hospital bills of Odumegwu-Ojukwu in London hospital, while other South-east governors pledged to contribute along the line.

He expressed satisfaction with the active participation of various state governments in arranging outstanding burial rites for the Igbo leadern in their states. He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for approving all requests at various stages of the burial ceremony. He also thanked him for participating personally in giving Odumegwu-Ojukwu a well deserved honour which nobody had received in the past in Nigeria and probably will not receive in the near future.

The Senator, quoting part of Ahiara declaration where Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated that monument would be named after a good leader after he had died, stated that he was sure both state and federal governments would soon name benefitting monument in his honour.

He described as laughable the activities of those scheming in one way or another to be named Ojukwu’s successor, insisting that at appropriate time, a new Igbo leader would  emerge in line with  the egalitarian nature of Ndigbo.