Symbolic procession for Ojukwu begins

THE symbolic search for the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, began, Saturday, in Awka as part of the final ceremonies for his burial, with Governor Peter Obi, members of his cabinet and one of the sons of Ojukwu, Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr), leading the procession.
The procession, which took off in front of the Governor’s Lodge at Amawbia at about 9.00 a.m., took the participants through the major streets of Awka and terminated at the Alex Ekwueme Square in the state capital.
Those in procession carried the portrait of Ojukwu and green leaves as they marched and were joined by motorists and motorcycle operators who sang and eulogized the defunct Biafran leader. Traders at the Eke Awka market also joined in the procession, with security operatives directing affairs.

Permanent Secretary,Ministry of Culture, Enugu State, Mr. Fedinard Anikwe (3rd right) leading a group of people with posters of the late Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu in a procession round Enugu as the burial rites for the Ikemba Nnewi begins, today.

Elsewhere at Nnewi, Saturday, members of the burial committee met and inspected the massive Odumegwu Ojukwu compound where the late Ikemba would be interred on March  3.
Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr), who briefed reporters after the meeting, said the committee was optimistic that the on-going rehabilitation would be completed before the burial.
Among projects going on in the compund were the construction of the tomb for the late Ikemba, asphalting of the massive compound, painting of the walls and the houses, as well as electrification of the area. A new transformer has already been installed in the compound.
Ojukwu (Jnr) said his father would be brought back to Nnewi after the government -arranged ceremonies in Enugu on March 2 and would be kept in his compound from where it would be taken to the nearby Catholic Church for the funeral mass the following day after which there would be interment.
Meanwhile, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State says the issues of justice, which the late Odumegwu Ojukwu craved for and fought against before the civil war, are returning.
Akpabio, who was speaking in a condolence visit to Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of the deceased statesman stressed that Nigerians needed to study the philosophy and ideologies of the late Ikemba in
order to find the pathway to lasting peace.
He insisted that Nigerians should always dialogue to achieve peace and not allow the country to move to the precipice of war, noting that the late Ikemba was a reluctant rebel and, in him, Nigeria  had a man who lived a good life, made valuable contributions to national development, exhibited true patriotism and greatness, and left indelible marks in the sands of time.
In her response, Mrs. Ojukwu, expressed appreciation to Akpabio for the condolence visit and added that the enthusiasm and support the governor had given to the family so far has given them hope that the late Ikemba would be given a national burial.