Ojukwu laid to rest at Nnewi hometown
By 11.53 am, the corpse arrived the church carried by eight military officers, followed by Catholic Bishops, including Bishop of Nnewi, Owerri, Oshogbo, Sokoto, Umuahia, Orlu and others led by the Arch Bishop of Onitsha Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Valerien Okeke. It was later placed in front of the altar. The Eucharistic Holy Mass […]
By 11.53 am, the corpse arrived the church carried by eight military officers, followed by Catholic Bishops, including Bishop of Nnewi, Owerri, Oshogbo, Sokoto, Umuahia, Orlu and others led by the Arch Bishop of Onitsha Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Valerien Okeke. It was later placed in front of the altar.
The Eucharistic Holy Mass kicked off at 11.58 am officiated by Most Rev. Dr. Odili Hilary Okeke assisted by other 12 Bishops while the Parish Choristers provided the renditions. In his homily, Bishop Emeritus Orlu Diocese, Gregory Ochiagha urged all that gathered for the Mass to pray for the repose of Ojukwu’s soul and for God to grant him eternal rest. He described Ojukwu as a leader who thinks and feels for others. “He was a great man, a new dawn to this generation, especially in Anambra and to Nigeria in general. Such a leader is rare, he was kind and considerate,” he said.
Most Rev. Dr. Gregory Ochiagha identified the major problem of Nigeria to be that Nigeria’s policy makers have distanced themselves from God, as he prayed that the country be given a purposeful leadership that will help to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.
Jonathan said it was because of Ojukwu’s pre-eminence in Nigeria’s history that the whole country gathered together to bury him, saying such has never been extended to any Nigerian before. “Today, we have come to the last journey to commit him to mother earth, to condole with his family. I have come with my family to commiserate with Ndigbo for their supports, and we thank God for his life.”
In his remark, Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Okeke, the Bishop of Nnewi Diocese prayed that the gathering should promote the unity of Nigeria, hoping that this unity will be unending.
Others who paid tribute include former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; first President of the Republic of Zambia Dr. Kenneth Kaunda; former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; the Senate President Dr. David Mark; the Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka; the literary icon, Chinua Achebe, amongst others.
Those who graced the occasion included former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Governors Theodore Orji of Abia, Chief Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Dr. Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State.
Others are former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju; Senator Ben Ndi Obi; Senator Chris Ngige; ANPP National Chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; representatives from Spain, Ramon Baldrich, Joan A. Pares and the Ezeigbo Spain, amongst others.