-Obi visits President -Senate to debate death<\/p>\n
THE President has been urged to approve state burial for Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Igbo leader who died in London on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja Monday night, according to sources, told Dr Goodluck Jonathan that \u201cgiven the stream of tributes for Ojukwu,\u201d the ex-Biafran leader should get a state burial.<\/span><\/p>\n Obi, who officially informed the President of Ojukwu\u2019s death, also thanked him for his concern throughout the 11-month period of Ojukwu\u2019s illness, it was learnt.<\/span><\/p>\n Besides, the request for a state funeral, there is also a demand for a posthumous national honour for the late Ojukwu.<\/span><\/p>\n 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\u2019s burial, adding that such recognition coming after his burial will be unacceptable to Ndigbo.<\/span><\/p>\n Ikedife said Ojukwu deserves such recognition, being a former Governor of the Eastern Region, which comprises today\u2019s 11 states.<\/span><\/p>\n His words: \u201cWe want the Federal Government to give him national honour posthumously and it must come before his burial.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d Ikedife said.<\/span><\/p>\n Also yesterday, the Senate resolved to debate Ojukwu\u2019s death tomorrow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South) drew the attention of the Senate to Ojukwu\u2019s death.<\/span><\/p>\n As required by the Standing Rule of the Senate, Senate President David Mark sought Senators\u2019 approval to discuss Ojukwu\u2019s death through a voice vote.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The lawmakers unanimously voted to discuss it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n Political parties in Anambra State are working together for a befitting burial for Ojukwu.<\/span><\/p>\n The 78-year old leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) passed on last Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n Traders also said they are set to immortalise him.<\/span><\/p>\n