…Amb. Bianca, Uwazuruike, others seek Igbo unity, release of Nnamdi Kanu

The late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a legend in life, and has remained so even 13 years after his transition.

The 13th edition of Ojukwu memorial anniversary tagged Ojukwu Day held at the Arcade of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Library, Owerri, Imo State, on November 26, clearly showed that Owerri practically stood still in honour of the gallant military officer who led the people of the then Eastern Region to war after declaring the Republic of Biafra.

From the states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers, contingents trooped to the venue and created a sort of carnival scene. Different groups from the states paraded with banners just as scintillating cultural troupes also displayed their skills.

Of particular interest were masquerades from Anambra State, including the biggest Ijele in Igboland, which performed at the event. Performers from Afikpo, Ebonyi State; Agbor, Delta State; Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State; Northern Cross River, as well as Orlu, Imo State, held the guests spellbound.

In the area of attendance, dignitaries who graced this year’s event include former Chairman of South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya; Eze Igbo of Lagos, Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu; member representing Nnewi North State Constituency in Anambra House of Assembly, Augustine Ike-Ikedoji; former Imo State Commissioner for Information, Prof. Vitalis Ajumbe; and the regent of Nri.

An array of bishops and other clerics, Cheta Nne Women Group, MASSOB Women, as well as representatives of Igbo in the Diaspora, were also present.

Prominent Nnewi indigene, C.C. Martins led an intimidating delegation from the home town of the Ikemba Nnewi to attend the memorial celebration.

Archbishop Gregory Asiegbu set the tone for the event with a brief prayer, calling for the continued repose of the soul of the Igbo leader, Ojukwu.

He gave a word of advice from Proverbs 24: 34; highlighting the need for righteousness among the Igbo. He stated that sin is a reproach.

Wife of the ex-Biafra leader and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca, spoke on the most current topical issue in Igboland, which is the call for the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The minister’s speech came after the organiser of the event and founder of Biafra Independent Movement (BIM)/Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, had urged her to take their message to President Bola Tinubu, to free Kanu, noting that his protracted detention was because he is Igbo.

Dwelling on the theme of this year’s event: “Unifying the Igbo race,” Mrs Ojukwu said that Kanu’s release was imperative, pointing out that the president was aware that his release would usher in peace in the Southeast.

She condemned the havoc insecurity had caused in the region, regretting that many communities have become desolate as people fled to state capitals in the region and other cities such as Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The minister lamented that criminals masquerading as agitators had taken advantage of the incarceration of the IPOB leader to perpetrate crime in the zone.

“I believe that for peace and harmony to return to our region, I align myself with the call by Okenwa Ndigbo, Uwazuruike, for Kanu to be released. I have no doubt that the president will not stop his release. He understands what Kanu’s release means, that it’s imperative.

“He (Kanu) will be released soon, he will be released. Every Nigerian knows that his release is imperative. Because, if he is released, these criminals masquerading as freedom fighters will have no guise to keep committing atrocities. If Kanu is released, this killing field will become a prosperous land.

“My pledge to you is that I won’t relent in pursuing Kanu’s release,” she declared.

She categorically called for an end to the kidnappings and carnage in the Southeast, saying that the people of the region are not known for killing their brothers. She declared that the people must collectively reclaim their land.

“Today, I am calling on our people in the bushes to come out. These killings must stop, we must stop this carnage. We must bring this carnage to a stop; we must collectively stop these killings. We can’t continue killing ourselves this way. This was not what Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu fought for.

“Our big people including politicians have all fled the Southeast,” she lamented.

Aside many people fleeing their homes to safety, Mrs Ojukwu stated that those in the Diaspora are even afraid to return for fear of being kidnapped for ransom by their own people.

She lamented: “Alaigbo has become a place of violence, insecurity, you go to communities you will discover that they are empty. Southeast communities are suffering an existential threat today. Kidnappers are kidnapping their own brothers for ransom. I had had to speak to the kidnappers who had kidnapped one of the persons who accompanied me to this event today.

“They said that they are fighting for Biafra and declared a sit-at-home and people who come out for their businesses are killed. Is this what Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu fought for? People cannot go to their farms because of fear of being kidnapped or killed. Ndigbo are known to be enterprising, and their brothers’ keepers. We must collectively reclaim our land because our illustrious sons and daughters have all fled the communities and we must continue to propagate the ideals for which Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu stood for.

“I was sad when an Igbo person in the United States of America told me that they are making donations in America to buy burial grounds to bury their dead relatives as insecurity in the region doesn’t allow them to do that at home.”

The minister also condemned any form of violence in the region, calling for the sustenance of the non-violence approach being propagated by Uwazuruike.

Reflecting on the ill-fated 30-month civil war, Mrs Ojukwu faulted those calling the ex-Biafra leader, a warlord. She argued that Ojukwu was not a war monger, but fought to defend his people who were faced with genocide.

Notwithstanding, the minister bemoaned the seeming disunity among Igbo leaders and politicians especially the state governors whom she accused of pursuing interests instead of the corporate interest of the region.

“We have to demand of our governors, our leaders, myself inclusive, to bring to the forefront those things that concern us. Our problem is that we are disunited and our leaders are pursuing individual agenda. We must synergize. Other regions collaborate, but our people pursue personal gains.

“So, Southeast governors must change their techniques, methods and tactics,” Mrs Ojukwu insisted.

She said: “What we are doing today, the 13th edition of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu memorial, is what our governors, even those that he sacrificed his all to lift, could not achieve.

“On behalf of the family of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, on behalf of Nnewi people that came here today, on behalf of Ndi Anambra State, on behalf of Ndigbo, home and in Diaspora, I thank Okenwa Uwazuruike for these memorial ceremonies these years.”

Appealing to the Federal Government to release the IPOB leader, Uwazuruike expressed sadness that “we are here celebrating and Kanu is there suffering,” adding: “Iyom, you have been in the lead for Kanu to be released, but today, you are closer to the government. So, please, you will tell the president to release Nnamdi Kanu for us.

“You are the real representative of the Igbo, so, tell the President that I asked that if he knew how he released his brother, Sunday Igboho, he should release Nnamdi Kanu for us.

“Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho and leader of Miyetti Allah were arrested and detained, but the rest two were released, leaving Kanu to languish in custody.

“This is not the first time that this kind of thing is happening. Recall that there was a time Asari Dokubo, Frederick Fasheun and I were arrested. The other two were released, and I was abandoned in jail. Why was it so? Because I am Igbo.

“I was there when my mother died, before they gave me time to go and bury my mother and return to the prison.

“So, tell the President to release Nnamdi Kanu for us.”

He said that the programme was to commemorate the legacies of Ojukwu, the Ikemba of Nnewi, assuring that: “All the good things he stood for will not be forgotten.”

The BIM/MASSOB founder also extolled Mrs Ojukwu for her resilience and commitment in sustaining Ojukwu’s legacies.

“Iyom, you are a great woman, my wish is that any person that wants to get married, should pray for a wife like Iyom Bianca.

“Yesterday was sit-at-home, but she rode all the way from Enugu to Owerri. She will go to any length to identify with anything concerning Ojukwu,” Uwazuruike said.

The Chairman of the occasion, Elder Onyema Ugwunze, called for one minute silence for all Igbo young people who had been killed at one point or another in recent times.

He noted that happenings at the event clearly showed that Ojukwu was not dead. He thanked Uwazuruike for keeping the fire burning and specifically noted the role Mrs Ojukwu has played in sustaining the Ikemba Nnewi’s legacies.

Guest Speaker at the event, Prof. Protus Uzorma, said Ojukwu “solidified the Igboland and made it to be a peaceful place until his death”.

Uzorma called on all Igbo to unite, adding that with peace in the region development would be assured.

He described the evil currently happening in the region as a new phenomenon, which was not part of the things the Igbo were known for.

He said that Igbo people were peaceful, loving, enterprising and assisting one another before the killings, unrest and kidnappings erupted in the region.

He urged those behind the ugly situation to stop forthwith in order for peace to reign.

Another interesting activity was the presentation of trophy to the football team from Obollo Afor, Enugu State, which emerged winner of the unity football championship.

Also, there was exhibition of assorted products indicating the rich agricultural potential of the region.

The Sun Nigeria