Ojukwu, Rallying Point for Igbo Unity – Uwazuruike

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Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, late Biafra leader

By Jude Atupulazi

The Founder of the Movement for the Actualization of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has described the late Igbo Leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, as the rallying force for Igbo unity, a reason, he said, why he celebrated the fallen icon’s birthday since 1994 every year and has been organising lectures in his memory since his death in 2011.

Uwazuruike said that Ndigbo would never move forward in Nigeria without unity and that the only name that would foster such unity was Odumegwu Ojukwu.

The MASSOB Founder who spoke against the backdrop of this year’s Ojukwu Memorial Lecture, taking place on November 26, said: ‘In 2012, I started celebrating his memorial as a reminder to Ndigbo that the quest for Igbo unity begins and ends with Odumegwu Ojukwu. I see Ojukwu as the Mahatma Gandhi of India and I believe that if Ndigbo respect and honour Ojukwu as Indians do to Gandhi, the unity of Ndigbo would be guaranteed.’

Disclosing that Ojukwu had been his hero since childhood, he said, ‘I used to hear and read about Odumegwu Ojukwu as a child. But around 1992, or thereabouts, I was privileged to see Ojukwu during a meeting of non-indigenes in Lagos where I led the group representing the Igbo community in Lagos State.

‘Due to my contribution in the meeting he personally invited me to his house in Vilasca Lodge Ikoyi. From that private meeting with him, he developed some likeness and I found in him a man of unquestionable character and someone that had genuine interest for the wellbeing of Ndigbo.

‘I subsequently began to work under him for the interest of our people. I started celebrating his birthday since 1994 until his demise in 2011.

‘My group and I have been hosting Ojukwu Memorial Day since 2012, unbroken. The 2024 eEdition is the 13th. And I believe that as long as I live, the celebration must continue,’ he maintained.

Uwazuruike said that in this year’s lecture, with the theme, “Solidifying Igbo Unity”, all the cultural activities known in Igbo Land world be displayed.

‘Prominent Ndigbo use the event to express themselves on the happenings not only in Igbo Land but also in Nigeria,’ he noted.

According to him, prominent personalities, including foreigners, had always graced the event and were expected in this year’s event.

He disclosed that this year’s Ojukwu Memorial Day would begin on November 25 evening with a gala night and the main event to hold on the 26.

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