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Jonathan ,Atiku, Sylva mourn
Ojukwu
Newsdiaryonline Sat Nov 26,2011
Ojukwu
President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan said today that he received with much sadness and
a deep feeling of great national loss news of the passing away
of Chief Chukwemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in the United Kingdom.
According to a statement
by presidential spokesman Ruben Abati, President Jonathan joins
Chief Ojukwu’s family, the government and people of his home
state, Anambra, the entire Igbo people of Nigeria and his
friends, associates and followers across the country in mourning
him.
Jonathan urges
them to be comforted by the knowledge that Chief Ojukwu
lived a most fulfilled
life, and has in passing on, left behind a record of very
notable contributions to the evolution of modern Nigeria which
will assure his place in the history of the country.
The statement said the president
believes that
late Chief Ojukwu’s immense love for his people, justice, equity
and fairness which forced him into the leading role he played in
the Nigerian civil war, as well as his commitment to
reconciliation and the full reintegration of his people into a
united and progressive Nigeria in the aftermath of the war, will
ensure that he is remembered forever as one of the great
personalities of his
time who stood out easily as a brave, courageous, fearless,
erudite and charismatic leader.
"The President calls on
Chief Ojukwu’s family, his associates and followers to make his
rites of passage a celebration of his most worthy and memorable
life spent in the service of his people and the nation.He prays
that God Almighty will grant Chief Ojukwu’s soul eternal rest
from his earthly labours" ,Abati said
Also,Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the
death of Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, as
another colossal loss to Nigeria at a time of strenuous efforts
for unity and reconciliation.
In a condolence message issued in Abuja by his media office,
Atiku Abubakar recalled that Ojukwu’s role as a key actor in
Nigeria’s political development cannot be easily forgotten.
He said Ojukwu was a tremendously respected and influential
politician whose endorsement was frequently needed by others to
build their political careers.
According to Atiku, history had cast the late Ojukwu into a role
and he played that part to the best of his abilities
The former Vice President recalled that the late Ikemba of Nnewi
was always consulted by successive governments in Nigeria in
their efforts to consolidate unity, harmony and cohesion in the
country
“Because of his tremendous influence on the hearts and minds of
the people, the late Ojukwu was an icon in every sense of the
word. Even if you disagreed with the Ikemba, you cannot ignore
his father-figure stature and colossal influence,” the Turakin
Adamawa added.
The former Vice President prayed to God to grant Ojukwu’s soul
eternal rest in peace. He also condoled his family, the Anambra
State government and the entire people of the state for the loss
of what he described as one of Nigeria’s brightest political
stars.
In a related development,
Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre
Sylva, said Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was a great
Nigerian who devoted his life to the fight against injustice and
promotion of equality among Nigerians.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola,
Sylva said, "Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu was a man of principle, a
great Nigerian who remained dedicated to his convictions until
death. Even when he was forced by the circumstances of his day
to lead his people into a war, and later went into exile, he
returned to the country after a national pardon to join other
Nigerians in a broad political platform for nation-building.
When another political opportunity called, he formed a platform
through which he intended to accomplish his long-held dream for
an egalitarian Nigeria. Though his presidential bid did not
succeed, Odumegwu-Ojukwu stayed committed to his dream by
helping in the emergence of governments and politicians that
share his political ideals for the Igbo nation and Nigeria. He
never gave up."
Sylva prayed God to give Odumegwu-Ojukwu's family and Nigeria
the fortitude to bear the loss.
Th
This is the document referred to in the Witness
Statement on Oath of Clifford O. Kokogho as
“Exhibit
COK.2”
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