Ojukwu is not dead
By Chinedu Vincent Akuta
“For those who know
him, no word is necessary; for those who do not know him, no word is
sufficient” W.T. Horngren. (An American Author). For those who know
Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Ikemba Nnewi) no word is necessary, for
those who do not know him, no word is sufficient enough to describe him.
When I
first heard the news of his death very early in the morning of today, Saturday 26th November
2011, I began to pray let it not be true. The news kept coming
and coming. I had no choice but to place a call to a friend who had the
opportunity of visiting him in the hospital when he was alive. Sadly my friend
confirmed my worst fears, that Ikemba was actually dead. Few days ago (November 4th 2011)
I had the privilege of wishing him happy birthday.
Ojukwu has left
an indelible mark. No one can occupy his position. Ojukwu is synonymous with
the Igbos as the Igbos are synonymous with him. He was to Igbos what Moses was
to the Israelites in the Holy Bible. You cannot die because you live in the
hearts and minds of your people (Ndiigbo). Your legacies and ideas will live
forever. According to late John F. Kennedy (former American President) “A man
may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on”. Your legacies are
carved in stone and you will forever remain in the minds of Ndiigbo and entire
Nigerians.
As a young man,
I took an exceptional interest in Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. I tried to
study History at University
of Nigeria
Nsukka
, because Ikemba studied History, however, providence took me to a different course. I
read all most, all the newspaper/magazines interviews Ikemba gave before I left
Nigeria
. During my last visit to home, I collected his book; Because I Am
Involved. I have read this book more than eight times and I am not yet
tired of reading it. I read over 15 books on the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.
The greatness of
a man is measured by what he lived and died for. You lived your life fighting
for fairness, equity, justice, and peace. You stood for Ndiigbo at the dark
moments. On the concept, Biafra, here is what Ojukwu said, “The
concept, Biafra, was a line drawn for a persecuted people to have a beacon of
hope, a line drawn so that a fleeing people can at least hope that once they
cross it, they have arrived at a goal, a line drawn so that a hated and
persecuted people can at least know that once they reach there, they would have
love and succor. This is why there was no declaration of that line as a
republic until certain acts of war were initiated against the persecuted
people.” (Because I Am Involved, P 170). On fighting the Igbo cause,
Ojukwu said, “I have had my belly full of wars. I will always fight for
the welfare of the Igbos, though this time around on a table of dialogue”, “In
Aburi, I stated the Igbo case and I will continue to do so wherever it is
necessary” (Because I Am Involved, P 170). There is no way we can
forget Ikemba Nnewi,
therefore you’re not dead.
Ojukwu generated more
controversies, more than any other Nigerian. Many often, he has been
mis-quoted, mis-interpreted and mis-trusted. Yet his views, visions and
solutions to Nigeria
’s problem remain one of the best, if not the best. I consider myself
lucky, having lived to witness his existence/passage on earth.
Chief Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu is an enigma, a legend, a hero, a leader, a patriot, and above
all,the General of the people’s army. Rest in peace our great leader.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta is an activist
and citizens journalist. He wrote in from Nigeria
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