-Obi visits President -Senate to debate death
THE President has been urged to approve state burial for Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Igbo leader who died in London on Saturday.
Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja Monday night, according to sources, told Dr Goodluck Jonathan that “given the stream of tributes for Ojukwu,” the ex-Biafran leader should get a state burial.
Obi, who officially informed the President of Ojukwu’s death, also thanked him for his concern throughout the 11-month period of Ojukwu’s illness, it was learnt.
Besides, the request for a state funeral, there is also a demand for a posthumous national honour for the late Ojukwu.
The former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife, who spoke on behalf of Southeast elders, insisted that the national honour must come before Ojukwu’s burial, adding that such recognition coming after his burial will be unacceptable to Ndigbo.
Ikedife said Ojukwu deserves such recognition, being a former Governor of the Eastern Region, which comprises today’s 11 states.
His words: “We want the Federal Government to give him national honour posthumously and it must come before his burial.
“The Federal Government should give him national honours for the sake of no victor, no vanquished, declared at the end of the war. If they fail to do this, it means there is a victor and a vanquished. And we are insisting that he must be honoured before his burial. Such an honour is unacceptable to Ndigbo, if it comes after his burial,” Ikedife said.
Also yesterday, the Senate resolved to debate Ojukwu’s death tomorrow.
Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South) drew the attention of the Senate to Ojukwu’s death.
As required by the Standing Rule of the Senate, Senate President David Mark sought Senators’ approval to discuss Ojukwu’s death through a voice vote.
The lawmakers unanimously voted to discuss it.
Mark said the matter should have been slated for discussion today (Wednesday), but for the debate of the probe of the activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) already billed for debate.
Political parties in Anambra State are working together for a befitting burial for Ojukwu.
The 78-year old leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) passed on last Saturday.
Traders also said they are set to immortalise him.
Southeast chairman of Amalgamated Traders Association Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, confirmed the traders’ plan yesterday in Onitsha.
Most of the traders, who spoke with our correspondent, said they will be willing to close their shops, in compliance with the directive by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
Besides, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) said they are mobilising to ensure that Ojukwu’s burial is first of its kind.
Prince Kenneth Emeakayi, state chairman of the PDP, Chief Amaechi Obidike of (ACN) and Chief Chukwuemeka Ojiako of ANPP, described Ojukwu as “everybody’s hero”. They must unite to accord him that respect, irrespective of party affiliation, he said.