News Release: Ojukwu’s Place In Nigerian History Is Assured

President Jonathan

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has 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.

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.

The President 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.

President Jonathan 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. 

Reuben Abati, Ph.D. Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)

News Report: Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Is Dead

Late Ojukwu

chidi opara reports can now report that ex-Biafran Leader, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu is dead. A statement issued today by one of his children, Mr. Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Jnr. said that the holder of the traditional title of Ikemba Nnewi and Dike Di Ora Mma of Igboland died in London where he was recovering from a severe stroke.

Ojukwu, who was a national leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA), seriously took ill last year and was taken to London for medical attention.

The statement reads:

After a protracted and brave fight against stroke, the People’s General, Ikemba Nnewi, Dikedioranma Ndigbo, Odenigbo Ngw, Ezeigbo Gburugburu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu died in the early hours of today in London.

We thank all those that showed concern in our period of difficulties, starting from the President of Country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR. We thank in a special way the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi who went above and beyond the call to duty to look after him. Besides paying the hospital bills, he visited London on monthly basis to see him. He was there yesterday and only came back this morning to receive the news, whereupon he entered the next available flight back to London. He even had to fly Economy since other classes were fully booked. We thank him for the sacrifices.

We thank all Nigerians for their solidarity, especially those that continued to pray for him. May you continue to pray for the repose of his soul.

Further details shall be made available.
 
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu
For the family"