November 25, 2011 started like any other day. But when news came from a London hospital about the demise of former Biafran leader Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the day literally ended in the entire Southeast. Although the East is known as the land of the rising sun, that day, the reaction to the news of the man who became a folk hero among his people at a young age, portended an eclipse of the sun. It was thought that the world had come to an end. In one year, however, political, economic, social and religious activities have resumed, even at his home town, Nnewi, Anambra State.
Last Sunday, November 25, a one-year commemoration service was held for the late Ikemba Nnewi at the Saint Michael ArchAngel Catholic Church, Umudim Nnewi.
It brought together Igbo leaders from the five states in the region. Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), leader Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and his Deputy Chief Romny Ezeonwuka led their “troops” to Nnewi. It was a beehive of activities as Biafra war veterans and members of MASSOB, clad in a black and green attire, with the Biafran Flag, sang war songs, eulogising the defunct Republic..
Political leaders at the service included Anambra State Governor Mr. Peter Obi, Mrs.Virgy Etiaba and the national chairman of the crisis-ridden All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, among others. Notably, the one year commemoration of Ojukwu’s death, afforded both Governor Obi and Umeh the opportunity of close contact for a very long time.
Governor Obi, who had been at the forefront of Ojukwu’s remembrance, said that the memory of the great Ikemba Nnewi would stick in the memory because he lived for something worth remembering.
Others, according to Obi, who lived such life were Napoleon Bonaparte, King Louis XIV, General MacArthur, Alexander the Great, King Philip of Macedonia and many others. “You know that Ojukwu’s motto was ‘to thyself, be truthful’..
“For us to have a better and prosperous Nigeria, we must be truthful to one another and confront the problems that face us in the spirit of truthfulness” he said.
The state chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Patrick Orjiakor, hailed the qualities of Ojukwu even in death.
He said if the late Ikemba Nnewi had been alive, the crisis rocking APGA, would not have happened. He added that since his demise, things had fallen apart for the party. Orjiakor called for unity of the people of South East.
But the remembrance was without four of the region’s governors, namely Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha; his Abia counterpart, Theodore Orji, Ebonyi’s Martin Elechi and Enugu State’s Sullivan Chime.
No reason was given by anybody for the absence of the governors and no apology was sent. They had actively participated in the burial of the Igbo leader. Sources in Nnewi confided in The Nation that though the family had been entangled in squabble over the estate left behind by Ojukwu in recent times, the Nnewi community had waded into it to ensure an amicable settlement.
Many traditional rulers in the state equally offered respect to Ojukwu even in death as they all attended the Holy mass, including the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III. Umeh pleaded that everybody should give peace a chance as Ojukwu stood for peace and love. “They should know that Ojukwu hated persecution and intimidation, he hated lies being told against anybody, we encourage people to work hard and reap from where they worked”.
He said that Ojukwu never humiliated anybody, and that, rather, he encouraged all parties while alive. He asked those influencing the crisis in APGA after the demise of the founding National Leader of the party to think twice.
At his grave side, Rev. Fr. Cletus Chukwuemeka said that his soul will have eternal rest, while his son Chukwuemeka junior commended Obi and others for being with the family since the death of their father.
The noise and parade by the MASSOB members added colour to the event, with the Director of Information of the group, Uchenna Madu saying, it was part of the respect for their hero.
Squable over estate
Ironically, the Ojukwu anniversary failed to quell the raging war in the family over property inheritance even though his will was made public last week and there is no enough assurance that the crisis in APGA has come to an end.
In the Will read last Friday in Enugu by the Chief Registrar, Enugu Judiciary and Probate Registrar, Mr. Dennis Ekoh, the late Ojukwu not only literally disowned look-alike ‘son’ Debechukwu Odumegwu Ojukwu but also shocked all by acknowledging a hitherto unknown daughter, Teny Harman.
Widow of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca, was mostly favoured. Moreso, Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr.) only got a property in Nnewi.
Bianca, the late Igwe of Oraukwu, Emeka Ojukwu and James Chukwuneme were listed as trustees and executors of the Will, while the names of Ojukwu’s children were next.
Besides, the deceased stated that only those listed as his children in the Will, and no other person, should be regarded as his children.
Those listed as his children are Tenny Harman, Emeka Ojukwu, Mmegha, Okigbo, Ebele, Chineme, Afam and Nwachukwu.
The Will awarded Ojukwu’s GRA, Enugu mansion, ‘Casabianca,’ in her favour. She also got two properties located at Plot 20, Jabi, Abuja, with Certificate of Occupancy number 4405, as well as another located at Kuje, Abuja.
The late Ezeigbo gburugburu also willed to Bianca all personal effects, money and cars for her upkeep her children’s. He also allotted to her two hectares of land at Umuezeani Umudim Nnewi on the condition that she does not remarry.
His strange daughter, Tenny, was allotted Jubilee Hotels in Kaduna State, but when the codicil was read, it was observed that the hotel had been sold, thus she would receive the proceed from the sale.
The deceased further willed a hectare of land each to all his daughters but directed that his Nnewi property is “to remain a binding legacy to us for generations to come.”
The Will, expectedly has sparked real crisis within the family.
Ojukwu’s kinsmen of Umudim Nnewi and kinsmen of the mother of Ojukwu’s son, whose name was conspicuously omitted in the Will, Debe are out for a show down with the said administrators of the Will.
Ojukwu’s kinsmen are not favourably disposed to the contents of the will, hence a traditional crises is likely to brew in the family.
The Umudim Nnewi who fully recognise Debe as Ojukwu’s son and relate with him as such were wondering how Ojukwu could have willed his obi to a woman.
According to a source close to the late Biafran leader’s hometown, “we will not allow a sacrilege on our tradition as it’s unheard of that a woman occupies the obi of the husband after his death.”
They insisted that the first son is the proper person to occupy the obi and not the wife, “will or no will.” Doubting the contents of the said Will, the source said he agreed with Emeka Ojukwu (jnr) that the Will was doctored and wondered why it was only the widow of Ojukwu that was present during the reading. We will straighten out things when we get back home. And for the information of the public, Debe is one of us and we recognise him as Ojukwu’s son. Is there any of his children that looks more like him? Time will tell,” said the source.
And Debe’s mother’s kinsmen from Ezeagu, Enugu State, yesterday met and resolved that they would not allow their “grandchild” humiliated just because of the “greed of an individual.”
Debe, who is a Lagos legal practitioner said he is not perturbed that his name was not listed as Ojukwu’s children in the Will, adding that through a DNA test a person could lose his paternity if it is proved that he is not the rightful child of his father.
Debe had dragged the Ojukwu family to court for preventing him from performing ‘dust to dust’ rites at his father’s burial.
In a sworn affidavit to enforce his fundamental human right before a Federal High Court in Lagos, filed on his behalf by Chief Mike Ozekhome, (SAN) Chief Debe averred as follows:
•That he was born on August 3, 1956 to the late Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and his late wife, Margaret.
•That his father was then an Assistant District Officer at Udi, Enugu State, and his mother a primary school teacher at Udi.
• That he is the first and the eldest surviving son of the late Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
• That after his birth, his poor mother was responsible for his welfare and upbringing from her meagre income as a school teacher.
• That he joined the police as a recruit in 1976 and through hard work he went to the University of Nigeria, Enugu, and was later called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986.
• That his promising career in the Nigeria Police was abruptly truncated when Professor Joseph Okwuabudike Ojukwu, Engineer Emmanuel N. Ojukwu, Mr. Lotanna Ojukwu and Mrs. Margret Nugbo invited and begged him to come and manage the business of Ojukwu Transport Limited on their behalf despite the fact that they did not contribute anything to his upbringing.
• That Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu during his lifetime never contested newspaper publications recognising him as his first surviving son.
• That when his father became ill in 2010, he donated blood to him at the University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, before he was flown abroad for further treatment.
• That he, thereafter, visited him in London with his wife and children.
• That upon the demise of his father on November 26, 2011, a meeting was convened by Professor Joseph Ojukwu with a view to reaching an amicable settlement as to who should control and manage the personal property owned by Ojukwu Transport which belonged to their grandfather, Sir Louis Ojukwu, and the ones belonging to their father, Emeka Ojukwu.
• That there and then, Professor Joseph Ojukwu, Engineer Emmanuel Ojukwu and Lotanna Ojukwu threatened to maim or kill him if he did not cease forthwith from interfering with the management of the property owned by Ojukwu Transport and the late Sir Louis Ojukwu.
• That they also barred him from attending the burial of his late father despite the fact that he spent over N100 million during the funeral.
• That up till today, they are still threatening him on the basis of the circumstances of his birth, claiming that he is not the legitimate son of his late father.
• That this has caused a great distress among his peers and his business partners.
Joined in the suit are Ojukwu Transport Limited, Professor Joseph O. Ojukwu, Engineer Emmanuel N. Ojukwu, Mr. Lotanna Ojukwu, Emeka Ojukwu, Mr. Patrick Ojukwu, Mrs. Margret Mogbo, Nee Ojukwu, the Inspector-General of Police and Mr. Ibrahim Mukhtar, former Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, now an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
Debe prayed the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from threatening to kill him, if he does not cease from interfering with the will and personal property of Ojukwu Transport Limited and Sir Louis Ojukwu.
The presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, has adjourned the case to December 13, for hearing. If Ojukwu’s time on earth was marked by controversy, he stirs even more, now in death.
