Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday said the death of Ojukwu marked the passage of one of the movers of Nigerian history in the 20th century.<\/span><\/p>\n The former governor of Lagos State described Ojukwu\u2019s death as a reminder of \u201cNigeria\u2019s unfinished federal business and the urgency to fix the problem, once and for all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOjukwu\u2019s death once again reminds all of us of the unfinished business of Nigerian federalism. \u00a0If only for his memory, and to ensure that Nigeria never has to suffer again any crisis like the Civil War, we must all rise as a people to fix Nigeria\u2019s special challenges. \u00a0That is why,\u201d he insisted, \u201cNigeria must, as a matter of urgency convoke a sovereign national conference, where all these issues would be resolved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He said that federal-related tensions still persisted 31 years after the Civil War (1967-1970), underlined the depth of the feeling of marginalisation and perceived unfairness by critical stakeholders in the Nigerian union.<\/span><\/p>\n Tinubu extended his condolences and sympathies to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, the widow and the entire clan Ojukwu, as well as the entire Igbo race on behalf of who the Ikemba lived, fought and died, in the context of an equitable federal Nigeria.<\/span><\/p>\n The former governor said though Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu was a controversial figure, he made his mark during the era of the titans of Nigerian politics and governance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOjukwu, the Ikemba and Eze Igbo Gburugburu, meant many things to many people. \u00a0But his greatness was that he stood his own such that, even with the constellation of stars of his age and time, he still made his mark \u2013 and profoundly so. \u00a0You might love Ojukwu and you might hate him. \u00a0But you could never be indifferent about him nor could you ignore him,\u201d Tinubu said.<\/span><\/p>\n He said the late Biafran war leader was a revolutionary, almost from the womb.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhile his father, the rich and the illustrious Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu insisted his son should go into the civil services as was fit for an Oxford graduate in history that his son was, the young man had other ideas. \u00a0He opted for military service, even offering to join as a recruit, when his way was blocked. \u00a0That decision,\u201d Asiwaju Tinubu added, \u201cnot only made him the first graduate to enlist in the Nigerian Army, it also changed the course of Nigerian history.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Asiwaju Tinubu said the Biafran episode, the civil war and Ojukwu\u2019s role in the Second Republic when, fresh from exile when he dived head-long into the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) to contest a senatorial seat, which he eventually lost, was still a subject of historical analysis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n