Major markets where Nigerians of Igbo extraction plied their trade in Ladipo, Ojuelegba, Ikeja and Ojo areas of the city were shut to honour Ojukwu, whom the traders described as a great leader.
There was a parade of colourful cultural event as men and women in traditional attires took turns to sing and dance in celebration.
Youths in t-shirts bearing the picture of the late All Progressive Grand Alliance leader danced round the TBS.
The ceremony also featured special rendition by the choral group of Prof. Laz Ekweme.
The ceremony, which was organised by the state government for Ojukwu, drew eminent personalities including Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; his Anambra State counterpart, Peter Obi; former governors of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu; Ndubuisi Kanu and Ubitu Ukiwe; former governor of Ekiti State, Adeniyi Adebayo.
Others are Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, General Adebayo Adeyinka (retd), General Ike Nwachukwu (retd), Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Kalu Idika Kalu, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Prof. Anya Anya and Chief Sunny Odogwu, amongst others.
The state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, said the late Ojukwu led his people to fight the 1967 Nigeria civil war because he loved them and not about the secession of the country.
He said, “He was in pursuit of a just and egalitarian society, rather than chaos and bloodshed. He did not love Nigeria less, he loved his people more.”
Fashola called on Nigerians to focus more on what binds them as one nation rather than on ethnic and religious leanings.
Okorocha said the spirit of Ojukwu would continue to live with the Igbo in Nigeria.
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