BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA- THE late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu literary
resurrected in Anambra State Sunday following his 79th birthday that was
posthumously celebrated in the state at the instance of Governor Peter
Obi. Ojukwu died last year in a London hospital, after battling with
attack of stroke.
Obi had at the weekend, appealed to all the churches in Anambra to
pray for the repose of the soul of the defunct Biafran warlord, which
was caried out in most of the churches Sunday.
As part of Ojukwu’s birthday celebration, the governor, accompanied
by his aides, visited flood displaced persons in their camps at Umueje,
Umueri, Agulueri and Onitsha. The visit would also continue today to
cover the 23 camps in the state.
Thes events in honour of Ojukwu, who was the leader of the ruling All
Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, were characterized by prayers by the
clergy, cutting of cakes and cash donation at the camps to enable the
displaced persons meet their daily needs.
According to Obi, the idea to celebrate the birthdays at the camps
was in line with the life of the late Ikemba Nnewi who, the governor
said, would have been reminding him to take care of the people affected
by the flood everyday were he to be still alive.
“Ojukwu was passionate about Ndigbo that if he were alive, he would
be reminding me daily on the need to take care of the people affected by
the flood,” Obi said.
Obi took opportunity of the visits to remind the displaced that
Anambra State government would continue to care for them in their time
of grief, assuring that the government, adding that the state government
has begun needs assessment that would guide it on various areas of
assistance to them, especially in the areas of rehabilitation and aid to
enable them get back to their various trades.
In his remarks, a chieftain of APGA and former minister of health,
Dr. Tim Menakaya commended the governor for remembering the late Eze
Igbo, adding that though Ojukwu had already etched himself in people’s
memories, nothing done in his memory would be enough.