Governors Abiola Ajimobi, Olusegun Mimiko, Abdulfatah Ahmed and the National Security Adviser (NSA) , Gen. Owoye Azazi have described the death of the Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as a national loss.
Ajimobi, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Dr Festus Adedayo, said death has robbed Igboland of one of its children who mirror what he called the trinity of Igbo character. He explained the trinity of Igbo character as Akpu uche (colt of reason), Ukwu n’ije (strives and enterprise) and Aka Ikenga (pride of attainment), stating that a good score by an Igbo man in all three pronounces him to have attained Ntozu (accomplishment/high grade titles), which in turn brings forth Odenigbo (global acclaim).
Mimiko described the death as a big loss to Nigeria. He noted that the vacuum, which Ojukwu’s death has created, will be difficult to fill because he was a great man, who had a dream for a great nation where there will be justice, equity and fairness.
He prayed God to grant the Ojukwu family, the Igbo people and the entire Nigerians, the fortitude to bear the loss.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, Ahmed said: “The Ikemba jettisoned personal comfort to embrace pain in order to secure lasting peace for his people and Nigeria. His death has left a vacuum that may endure for a long time.”
Gen Aziza said: “I received with shock the passing away of a great Nigerian and consummate Igbo leader, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu. The Ikemba Nnewi lived a fulfilled life and died as a great man. His service in the Nigerian military as one of the first set of elite soldiers paved the way for quick integration of elite class into the armed forces. Ojukwu left an indelible mark on the political and social turf of this nation. We will miss the courageous warlord who demonstrated humility and desirability to reintegrate himself and his followers into the mainstream Nigerian polity after the unfortunate civil war experience.”
The Campaign for Democracy (CD) said his death signalled the closure of a major chapter.
Its president, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, said: “ His was a long life struggle for his beliefs and uncommon commitment to fairness and equity. He has departed the world at a time when the nation is still grappling with many of the issues that he threw up for national discourse. His death should call attention to those issues and the need to resolve them so that we can build a harmonious country.”
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