Senate rejects state burial for Ojukwu

THE Senate, on Thursday, opposed a proposal for state burial for the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arguing that the former  Biafran leader did not fall in the category of those who should be so honoured.
They, however, advised the South-East governors to come together and give him a befitting burial.
While paying glowing tribute to the former Biafran warlord, the Senate urged the Federal Government to immortalise him by naming a prominent establishment after him.
It also observed a minute silence in his honour and agreed to send a delegation to commiserate with his family, the people and government of Anambra State.
A motion moved by Senator Andy Uba and 50 others had noted that Ojukwu was  a source of pride for those who had the opportunity to know him, as he stood tall against elements of injustice, segregation and oppression.
He disclosed that after Biafra,“his efforts helped to lay the foundation for national integration, equality and equity, championing Nigeria as one indivisible unit true to the words in our National Anthem.”
According to him, “Ojukwu seceded South-Eastern Nigeria from the rest of the country  and proclaimed the area a sovereign state with the name Republic of Biafra, on January 9, 1970” before running away from Nigeria.
Uba informed that he was granted  a full state pardon by the Shehu Shagari civilian administration and returned to the country in 1982, noting that “as an astute politician, he joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and was a member of the 1995 Constitutional Conference that midwived the fourth republic.”
Thereafter, members in turn eulogised him.  Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who worked with him closely, described his death as the end of an era and the beginning of another one, adding that Ojukwu as a soldier was courageous and fearless.
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