Ojukwu: Dame Jonathan visits Bianca

Posted by admin Biafra, First Ladies, Headlines, Patience Jonathan Sunday, December 18th, 2011

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday paid a condolence visit to Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

Mrs Jonathan, who declared that Nigeria’s history would not be completed without the Ikemba Nnewi, was accompanied to the GRA Enugu residence of the former Biafran warlord by the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime and his wife, Clara; the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Senator Ayogu Eze; Senator Andy Uba; Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu and his Labour counterpart, Chief Emeka Wogu, among other top government officials.

The president’s wife, who arrived at Ojukwu’s residence at about 3: p.m. amid tight security, said she received the death of the Ezeigbo Gburugburu with great shock.
“Ojukwu was a lover of democracy,” she told the grieving Bianca, recalling how her late husband had helped President Jonathan in his campaigns up to the point he emerged victorious at the polls.

She said Ojukwu was a man of equity who loved everybody, saying that members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which Ojukwu was the national leader, would miss him greatly. In her comments in the condolence register, Dame Jonathan wrote: “Your moral, intellectual and political capabilities were a source of inspiration to the Igbos and the people of Nigeria as a whole.

You were a gallant soldier and a political icon; Ezeigbo Gburugburu, your courage, fortitude and vision are worthy of emulation. You made your mark as a well-dedicated soldier and it is well commendable that you were willing to share your knowledge and ideas. You served your community and indeed Nigeria very well.”
Responding on behalf of the Ojukwu family, Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr), a former commissioner in Anambra State, thanked Dame Jonathan for the support she gave to their family throughout the period their father was sick.

His words: “We, the family of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu wish to show our heart-felt appreciation for the support that you gave to our father throughout the time of his illness; that you have been giving his wife, our sister, our mother throughout this difficult period. The concern you showed throughout; when the news got to you we were aware of your reaction, yourself and your husband, our president.

“We just want to say thank you; we say thank you to the governors who had rallied round and all other people in this country; churches, different groups, youth leaders who had rallied round our father in his time of illness. Without going so much into details I will like to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Also speaking, Governor Chime said he was expressing their gratitude officially as government of Enugu State even as he thanked Mrs Jonathan for the visit.
“Ikemba was actually an Enugu man; he lived most of his life in Nigeria here in Enugu; he also served in Enugu as head of government and you can see he lived in Enugu up till his death. So, we see him as an Enugu man; not to talk of our sister, his wife, so we are very grateful for this visit.

“Ours is to ensure that we give him a very befitting burial and do something to remember him as our former head and somebody who has led his people, so we thank you very much may the good Lord continue to guide you,” Chime said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the South-east Governors’ Forum and Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, promised that Ojukwu would be given a befitting burial.
He thanked the president’s wife for the role she played together with her husband throughout the period Ojukwu was ill.

Obi promised that the death of Ojukwu would be a turning point for the Igbo, as it would be used to unite and bring all the Igbo together.

-Sunwp_posts