Addressing a huge congregation of over 4,000 worshippers who filled the large auditorium of the St. Micheal De Archangel Catholic Parish, Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State yesterday during a burial mass which preceded Ojukwu’s burial inside his country home, Governor Obi, who is Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, and who spoke on behalf of all the Governors and the entire Igbo people, said the Igbos were happy about the role the federal government played during Ojukwu’s period of sickness, death and internment.
Turning to President Goodluck Jonathan, Obi recalled how kind and responsive he was to Ojukwu soon after he was briefed about his ill-health. “From that time, you showed love; you showed love that a son would show to a father. Mr. President, let me tell you, by this singular act of the love you’ve shown to our dear father and hero at this time, you have ended the Nigerian civil war.”
Obi said Ojukwu fought for the enthronement of justice and building of a better Nigeria for everybody, regretting that those societal challenges he fought against were apparently still existing in the country today.
He said, “What Ojukwu fought for is apparently what the President is fighting today. It is also what the Governors are fighting for today. We are only asking that people should make the sacrifice Ojukwu made during this fight. Let us be courageous to take those decisions that are popular and right .Let us build a better country for our children.’’
He also praised the governors of all the states that make up the old Eastern Region including that of Delta State for the roles they played in ensuring a successful burial for Ojukwu. “For the first time, the governors came together and said this is our responsibility,” he said. “They were proud to be part of the burial,” he added.
President Jonathan recalled how Ojukwu personally drove himself to attend his (Jonathan’s) father’s burial in Bayelsa even though the road leading to the state was in very bad condition at the time. “Ojukwu made me proud because when my father died, even though as at that time his (Ojukwu’s) health was not that good, but he drove down to my remote village in the Niger Delta. I almost wept when I saw him.”
