•OPC leader, Bianca urge Ndigbo to emulate his virtues
From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al Mustapha has disclosed that the late Biafran warlord and leader of Ndigbo, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu supported the creation of the six geopolitical zones in the country by the Military Administration of General Abacha.
This was just as the leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC),Dr. Fredrick Fasheun and Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu urged leaders in the country especially Ndigbo to emulate his virtues of sacrifice and selfless service to the people.
Mustapha who disclosed this yesterday during the 5th anniversary of the death of the Igbo leader at the Ojukwu Memorial Centre in Owerri, the Imo state capital, said that late Ojukwu who was co-opted as a member of 1995 Constitution conference supported the idea of dividing the country into the current six geopolitical zones for the unity of the country.
He said: “we should be speaking from the spirit of the man for whom we are gathered here today to celebrate. Ojukwu was one of those who had supported the creation of the six geopolitical zones in the country during the 1995 Constitutional Conference for the purpose of zoning political offices to ensure unity in the country.
He added, it is the lack of unity that has denied the country peace and development. Lack of unity is a fundamental problem which must be addressed and the pains of the Igbos are the pains of the country”.
Also, the OPC leader, Dr. Frederick Fasheun said that Ojukwu lives in the hearts of Ndigbo and the People of Nigerians as a whole, and that the south west will continue to support Ndigbo.
“We are here as always to support a nationalist and a rare breed who sacrificed his personal comfort and wealth to protect his people.
Ojukwu was a rare breed and a nationalist who had stood for justice and equity throughout his sojourn here on earth, but he is not dead because he lives in the hearts of the Ndigbo and indeed in all Nigerians”.
The widow of the late Igbo leader, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu who thanked the BIM/MASSOB leader Chief Ralph Uwazuruike for organising the annual memorial anniversary of his late husband, called on Ndigbo to close ranks and shun divisive tendencies which she said has been responsible for the lack of unity among Ndigbo.
According to her: “ Our problem is that we don’t always get our priorities right because of divisive tendencies and we should learn to appreciate our own, if you look around you, is this the only population of Ndigbo in Imo state or in the east? It is because we are not sharing money that is why you only see MASSOB members and those of our brothers and sisters who had appreciated what the late Ikemba had done for Ndigbo while alive”.
Earlier in her remark, the chairman of the event, Prof Antonia Maduekwe, said that Ojukwu was a man of vision, wisdom and honour who saw tomorrow because he knew the country so well.
“I believed in the philosophy and ideals of Ojukwu, because he was a man of vision, wisdom and honour who saw tomorrow. He knew the country so well and that was why he wanted freedom for the people. We have continued to stand firm against all odds. However, it is time for us to pause and think about our potentialities “.she said.
Dignitaries who graced the event included the Eze Nri, Obidiegwu Onyeso, Chief Perry Opara, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, Shettima Yerima, Archbishop Emmanuel Iheanacho, CSP Chioma Ajunwa,Hamza Al Mustapha, Uche Nwachukwu Eze- Igbo lagos amongst others.