Ojukwu Honoured At Colourful Colloquium In Ohanaeze HQ Enugu

Hundreds of Igbo and Nigerian leaders and citizens gathered at the Headquarters of Ohanaeze Ndigbo  in Enugu to honor the departed  Igbo leaders and Nigerian  statesman Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

The event, tagged “Ojukwu philosophies and ideals, a desideratum for a just and equitable Nigeria”, attracted so many intellectuals, friends and well-wishers of the Igbo icon. 

The Venue of the event was filled to be brim by Igbos and Nigerians from all works of life. 

The wife of the departed leaders Her Excellency Chief Mrs Bianca Ojukwu was represented by a high powered delegation at the event.

Also, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Nnia Nwodo was represented by the President of the Enugu state chapter of the organisation, Chief Alex Ogbonna. 

The event was chaired by Amb Godwin Onyegbula, an ex-Nigerians diplomat and later Permanent Secretary in the Biafran Ministry of Defence.

It witnessed lectures by erudite Academicians like Prof Obasi Igwe of Political Science department of UNN, Prof Ralph Nwokedi , a distinguished Political economist, and close friend of late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Barr Chudi Offodile who wrote a well-known book, The Politics of Biafra, Chief Emeka Mbiwe, the Private Secretary to the late Premier of Old Eastern region Dr Michael Okpara and other distinguished speakers.

In the various papers delivered at the event , the speakers espoused the ideals of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and his quest for a  just Nigeria nation . 

They insisted that Ojukwu was more patriotic and committed than most of the people who claim to love Nigeria and pay lip service to Nigeria unity. 

The pretenders to Nigeria unity often declare that ‘Nigeria’s Unity is not negotiable’ and ‘Nigeria is indissoluble’ only because they are raping and looting Nigeria for their own selfish benefit . 

It is these kind of people that hated Ojukwu’s guts till death, the speakers agreed in unison.

They saw Ojukwu as an avatar who saw the future and cried out for justice and equity in the polity.  

The speakers lauded Ojukwu’s doggedness and his protective shield to his people in the dark days of Nigeria’s history , even with his father’s resources.

Many of the speakers related their personal relationship with Chief Emeka Ojukwu and lauded his humility , candour and love for humanity.

Prof Obasi Igwe , whose topic at the lecture was ‘Ndigbo Yesterday, today and tomorrow called on Ndigbo to build and sustain a strong relationship with their brothers in the South South . 

He called for a ‘think home philosophy’ and courage by all Igbos  . They should have a never-say -die  philosophy at all times., he noted.

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr Nnia Nwodo called on Ndigbo not to forget their heroes and extoled the leadership qualities and vision of Gen Ojukwu which saw him through thick and thin in the dark days of the civil war. 

He promised that the Ohanaeze leadership under him will not disappoint Ndigbo . 

He noted that there would soon be an IGBO SUMMIT   later in the year where the IGBO VISION AND MISSION will be made known to Nigerians . 

Chief Alex Ogbonnia , the Enugu state President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo who represented Barr Nwodo went into memory lane to espouse the achievements of Ndigbo in all spheres of life and called on Ndigbo never to forget whom they are and where they were coming  from. 

He lauded the initiative of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu leadership foundation and the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria, who organised the event  and called for  similar foundation for the Great Zik of Africa, Dr M I Okpara and Dr Akanu Ibiam and other great Igbo leaders. 

That would help the younger generation to aspire for leadership and excellence, according to Chief Ogbonnia

The organisers of the event , THE CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION, COOLEF, and THE COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS OF NIGERIA, COSCON, commended the participants to the Colloquium and noted that the event is now an annual one which is aimed at immortalising the great Igbo leader and thus make the youths of Igboland, Old Eastern region and Nigeria to aspire to greatness..

The President of the COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS OF NIGERIA , COSCON  who is also the Executive Director of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu leadership foundation Chuks Ibegbu saw Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu as a great Igbo man, Nigerian Patriot and African leaders who stood steadfast for his people in the midst of all odds. 

He noted that the groups will continue to honor the departed leader every 4th and 26th of November every year, the latter event holding in tertiary schools to make our students conscious of the life and times of General Ojukwu.

Among those who attended and commented at the event included the Former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Nduka Eya, the former military administrator of old Imo state Navy Commodore James Aneke, His Royal Highness Igwe Chris Ogakwu,  Igwe of Udi in Udi LGA of Enugu state, Dr Joe Nwaorgu , immediate past Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, HIs Royal Highness Igwe Martins Ilouno of Ifite Dunu in Anambra state, Okosisi Abagana, Chief Emeka Mbiwe representing the Association of Igbo town unions, Rev Dr Obinna Akukwe, the spiritual leader of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu leadership foundation and Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress, Umuada Igbo, Ohanaeze Enugu women, a well-known broadcaster Okpani Nkama Junior, pro Biafran groups, representatives of Niger Delta groups, Alhaji Usman Magaji whose father was one of Ojukwu’s closest friends from the North .  Barr Reuben Okoro, former National  Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo world wide, Chief Eric Ebeh a national officer of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the National PRO of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr Achi Okpaga, Yoruba groups and middle belt groups, representative of Nigerians in the Diaspora, Dr Steve Aneke a USA based Nigerian medical practitioner who wrote ,the most voluminous book on Biafra,.

The Chairman of the South East Governors Forum Engr Dave Umahi was represented at the occasion by the Ebonyi state commissioner for Education Professor John Eke. 

Others at the event include the Northern community in the South East ,Dr Oluwole Kazeem , Prof Ibinabo Kingsley of Niger Delta University and several leaders of Nigerian civil society organisations.

The Igbo civil society coalition was led by Engr Bismark Orji, a well-known activist.

There were several goodwill messages from top government officials, and other stakeholders in Nigeria

The organisers noted that the next event for the icon will hold on 26th November at a venue to be announced soon and that one is for the remembrance of the death day of  leader even as the 7th November event was for his birth day.

There were side attractions, artistic and musical displays at the occasion.

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