The Moment (London)
Simon Imobo-Tswam, Babatunde Scott, and Henry Omunu
2 December 2011
THERE are indications that former Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, may not get a state burial being canvassed by a cross section of Nigerians, including the South East Governors Forum (SEGF) and prominent Igbo leaders.
A Presidency source, who said a state burial goes with full military honours with the entire expense borne by the Federal Government, told The Moment that besides the fact that the Ikemba Nnewi ‘was not a high state official at the time of his death, history makes a state burial for him a little difficult.’
The source said: ‘The idea may be politically appealing, and even emotional to some people, especially our Igbo brothers, but the truth is that it just cannot be done: there will be no state burial for Chief Ojukwu.’
He said the Federal Government was keen on not bringing ‘ethnic politics into the national tragedy that Ojukwu’s death is, and so is waiting for the right moment to break this news to the relevant audience.’
According to the Presidency source, even Awolowo, who was a Premier of the defunct Western Region and later Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council under Gen. Yakubu Gowon, did not get a state burial. Awolowo died in 1987.
He said under the Nigerian constitution, state burials are reserved for former heads of state, presidents, vice presidents and prime ministers, adding that President Jonathan was hoping the matter would not stoke ethnic tensions across the country.
So far, only six Nigerians have received state burials, namely: Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister (1957 to 1966); Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, President (1963-1966); Gen. Murtala Ramat Mohammed, Head of State (July 29, 1975 to February 13, 1976); Gen. Sani Abacha, Head of State (November 17, 1993 to June 10, 1998); Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua, President (July 29, 2007 to May 5th 2010); and Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, former Chief of General Staff during the Ibrahim Babangida military administration.
Only last Monday, Anambra State Governor and Chairman of SEGF, Peter Obi, visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and reportedly pleaded with President Jonathan to give Ojukwu a state burial, citing ‘the stream of tributes’ that have followed Ojukwu’s death.
However, the Senate stood still yesterday, for the foremost Igbo politician, devoting its entire session to honour his memory.
The Senate resolved to observe a minute silence in honour of the late war hero, just as it also agreed to send a high-powered delegation to commiserate with the Ojukwu family as well as the people and Government of Anambra State.
The senators urged the Federal Government to immortalise the departed leader by naming a prominent institution after him, while calling on the nine states that constituted the former Eastern Region, where he was the first military governor, to come together and give him a befitting burial.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Andy Uba and 50 others entitled: ‘Death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Ikemba Nnewi) 1933-2011.’
Apparently to capture the mood of the day, many South East Senators where Ojukwu hailed from, were in black suits, including Senator Uche Chukwumerije, known for his traditional white attire.
While the legislators continued to honour Ojukwu yesterday, Senate President David Mark said President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded the names of his widow, Bianca Ojukwu, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, and 86 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation as ambassadors.
Mark said the list comprises of 32 non-career diplomats and 56 career ambassadors.
The names of the non-career ambassadors are: James Shuaibu Barke, Chief Asam Asam (SAN), Okudili Odi Nwosu, Dr. Francis Okeke, Eric Aworabhi, Chive Kaave, Dauda Danlami, Mrs. Katharine Okon, Nwofe Alevander, Mathias Okafor, Mrs. Sifawu Inu-Umoru Momoh and Victoria Onipede.
Other nominees are: former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, Senator Haruna Garba, Nonye Rajis-Okpere, Chief Eddy Onuoha, Adamu Ibrahim, Alhaji Tukur Mani, Mrs. Biodun Olorunfemi, Olatokunboh Kamson, Dr. Sam Jimbe, Cornelius Oluwateru, Col. Roland Omowa (rtd), Akinyemi Farounbi, Taofik Arapaja and Mrs. Matilda Kwashi.
Others were Senator Abdallah Wali, Senator Lawan Gana Guba, Abubakar Shehu Bunu, and former Chairman of Abuja Municipal Council Area (AMAC), Mrs. Esther Audu.
The career diplomats are from Abia, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa and Kaduna states.
The other are from Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and a female nominee from Adamawa State.
Also yesterday in London, England, Ojukwu’s widow, Bianca, expressed gratitude to Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom for their support to the family during the period of her husband’s hospitalisation.
She conveyed this to a delegation from the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), led by its Chairman, Mr Bimbo Folayan, who paid her a condolence visit.
She assured CANUK that they would be involved in the burial processes of Ikemba when the final arrangements were concluded by the family.
One of Ojukwu’s uncle, Chief Innocent Okafor, told CANUK that, ‘The Ikemba died in your hands; it is only sensible that you (CANUK) is encouraged to play a major role in the Ikemba’s burial.’
Ojukwu, who was the military leader of the breakaway State of Biafra during Nigeria’s 1967-70 civil war, died last Saturday at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in England after a year-long battle with stroke.
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