IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Bianca Ojukwu, a Nigerian diplomat and widow of the Governor of Old Eastern Region, late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has celebrated the 11th anniversary of the death of her husband.
She shared photos from the event on her Facebook page on Tuesday.
Mrs. Ojukwu said: “Owerri, Imo State Capital was shutdown for the 11th year anniversary of the death of Igbo hero Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in a carnival like extravaganza celebrating the life and times of our icon.
“Thousands of people from all walks of life, groups, organizations, traditional rulers, clergy, professionals from the Old Eastern Region as well as Biafra War
“Veterans turned up for the spectacular ceremony. ODUM N’CHE IGBO, continue to enjoy a well merited rest in Heaven’s Land of the Brave. Amen.”
Bianca, who spoke at the 11th edition of Dim Ojukwu Memorial Day last weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital, noted since the death of Dim Ojukwu, Ndigbo have been lacking credible leaders who would speak for them.
“Until 2023 we will remember that power had fallen when Dim Ojukwu died. We miss him particularly in Igboland. Why do we miss him?
“It is because in Igboland today we have a deficit of credible leaders. What we have today in Igboland are men who are not men.
“What we have today is one man down, one less competitor. That is why what is happening today in the country we don’t have men who can stand up to speak for Ndigbo,” she said.
She also decried the killings in Igboland.
“At no time of the history of our people do we have the type of criminalities and criminals as we see on a daily basis in Igboland. Even during the war, we never heard or seen that people came out with knives to slice the throat and cough neck of another human being with pride.
“This is what we are seeing and why are we seeing it? We are seeing it because the general perception of not only the Igbo youths but the entirety of Nigeria youths is that Nigeria has become a crematorium of dreams.
“That Nigeria has become a premature restive place of hopes and aspirations and the youths look around and see nothing but wasteland.
“Come to the Southeast, there is today a lack of federal presence, no industries. So how can you earn a legitimate living when the system has completely collapsed?
“We are suffering a total system failure in economy, security, when a government can no longer guarantee lives and safety on the property and investments of the citizens.”
Mrs. Ojukwu also called on the Federal Government to immediately release IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, adding that no nation stifles the dreams of its citizens and expects peace.
“I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and I am so firmly convinced that no Nation can hold its people hostage and have peace, it is impossible because peace is freedom and also no nation can hold the dreams of its citizens to ransom and prosper,” she stressed.