Following
the clamour for a formal burial for millions of Anambra indigenes who
lost their lives in the Nigerian Civil War, the World War II and pockets
of sporadic violence in the country, the Government of Anambra State on Monday performed a formal rite of passage for the fallen heroes and
heroines as well as the civilian victims of the Nigerian Civil War, the
World War II, the pogroms and other ethnic and religious violence in the
country.
The
very elaborate but solemn ceremony which took place at the Alex Ekwueme
Square, Awka, attracted distinguished Igbo sons and daughters from the
entire South Eastern geopolitical zone including the former Vice
President, Dr Alex Ekwueme and the maverick billionaire businessman,
Prince Engineer Arthur Eze, Chief Victor Umeh, APGA National Chairman
and Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, APGA gubernatorial candidate in Imo
State among many others.
Delivering
a highly emotional address under the title – Ozoemezina: Memory and the
Quest for Igbo Renaissance, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie
Obiano explained that the event aptly tagged Ozoemezina (Never Again!)
was held in response to the strident calls from Ndigbo at home and in
the Diaspora for a formal burial for their kit and kin who lost their
lives in the Civil War and the endless cycles of violence that
characterize the country.
In
a voice that quavered with emotion, governor Obiano recalled that
“thousands of these people died because they believed in the ideal of a
united and strong Nigeria. They died courageously because our people do
not acknowledge fear.”
Describing
Ndigbo as a great people whose entrepreneurial drive has taken to known
and unknown places in pursuit of wealth –creating opportunities,
Governor Obiano declared that Ndigbo do not have a SINGLE STORY.
Said
he, “we are the owners of a proud history; paved with pain and anguish
and watered by the blood of the innocent. Hardly is there a family in
this gathering without a story; a story of profound loss. But beside
every story of loss sits a story of success; of glory and of abundance.
Ndi Anambra, to the glory of God, we are not a people with a SINGLE
STORY…we are a proud, intensely driven, hardworking, innovative,
adventurous and forward-looking people with more gifts than the world
can take!”
Situating
the event within the ebb and flow of time, Governor Obiano observed
that the ceremony was the beginning of a long symbolic “look backwards,
beyond the immediate horizon of our national experience, to honour the
memories of our loved ones who lost their lives to the various dark
chapters of our national history.”
Waxing
rather philosophical, Governor Obiano observed that “in doing this, we
are guided by our belief that life itself is an unbroken stream of
experiences stitched together by memory. Without memory, life assumes
the attributes of a futile gaze into the void of time!”
The
governor also pointed out that it was an integral part of the Igbo
culture to recall the events of the past as an important guide to the
future, explaining that this belief was succinctly captured in the Igbo
saying that Ncheta ka (Recall is supreme).
Comparing
the Igbo experience to the Jewish Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide,
Governor Obiano regretted that while those two extra-ordinary events in
human history had been etched on global memory through a carefully
directed effort, the response of Ndigbo to their own tragic history
lacked boldness and organization.
Throwing
more light on the reason behind the formal burial accorded the fallen
heroes and heroines, Obiano explained that Igbo “culture upholds the
centrality of ‘burial’ as a crucial epilogue in the narrative of life.”
He
praised Ndigbo as the “inheritors of an uncommon valour” which makes it
easier for them to climb over an awful experience and rebuild the
broken walls of friendship that will open fresh doors of hope. “We do
this with ease because we are a people of the faith. We believe in the
centrality of God in the affairs of men, we are bold enough to accept
the cruel verdict of fate and bury our dead with fanfare!” he reasoned.
Concluding,
Governor Obiano observed that with the ceremony, “we honour our dead in
words and deeds. We offer them a final resting place; a sanctuary where
their memory will forever ruffle the leaves of time. Today, as we lay
down their memorial stones, we bring closure to the wanderings of our
brothers and sisters whose great souls have yearned for the dignity of a
formal burial over the last half century.”
The governor also called on Ndigbo to vote massively for President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan in the February 14
Presidential elections as he represented the best hope for national
integration and unity for the country. He also urged them to vote for
all the candidates standing election in various states of the federation
on the platform of APGA.
Also
delivering a Homily at the Ecumenical Service held as part of the
ceremony, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor
applauded governor Obiano for the initiative which he said had enlarged
the scope of the activities marking this year’s edition of the Armed
forces Remembrance Day.
According
to him, the event was special because, “we are not only celebrating
patriotism, the sacrifice of life and limbs mad eby some members of the
armed Forces in the various conflicts – the World Wars, the Nigerian
Civil War, the peace Missions to Congo, Darfur etc – but also
commemorating the civilians, especially Ndigbo, who lost their lives and
property during the Nigerian-Biafran War and the various riots and
insurgencies in Nigeria.”
Observing
that “what is remembered and how it is remembered is of utmost
importance,” Bishop Ezeokafor argued that the identity of individuals
and communities are tied up with the memories they keep alive through
stories and celebrations.
Underscoring
the importance of memory, Bishop Ezeokafor observed that “the history
of the modern Igbo nation cannot be complete without the narrative of
the Nigerian-Biafran war. Bseides, recent events in Nigerian history
would remain incomprehensible without knowledge of that war. It is
therefore my view that efforts should be made to promote greater
awareness of that pivotal event in our lives as Ndigbo and as
Nigerians,” he surmised.
Highlights
of the event were the parade by unveiling of the cenotaph for the
fallen heroes and heroines, a parade by different socio-cultural groups
who paid a condolence visit to the Governor as the Chief-Mourner and a
colourful display of masquerades as is typical of the burial ceremony of
a wealthy Igbo personage.
Present
at the highly successful ceremony are Former Vice President Dr. Alex
Ekwueme, Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. nkem Okeke, National
Chairman of APGA, Chief Vicor Umeh, Speaker of Anambra State House of
Assembly, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili, Secretary to the State Government,
Oseloka Obaze, Civil War veterans, Col. Joe Achuzia, Col. Ben Gbulie,
Col. E.M Udeaja, Col. Emma Nwobosi, the Chief of Staff to the governor
of Anambra State, Prof. Joe Asike and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Jnr,
son of the legendary Biafran warlord, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu
Ojukwu.
See more pictures below:
|
Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President of Nigeria and his wife Beatrice, lighting
their candles at Ozemezina, a ceremony held to commemorate the memory
of Igbos who lost their lives in the Civil War, World War II and other
conflicts in Nigeria at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka
|
|
A cross section of Civil War heroes. Author of famous books on
the Civil War, Col. Ben Gbulie (extreme right) |
|
Governor Obiano laying the wreath to commemorate the event |
|
Governor
Obiano, Dr Ekwueme and Chief Umeh lighting a giant candle in honour of
the fallen heroes and civilian victims of the wars and conflicts.
|
|
Legendary warlord, Col. Joe Achizia |
No comments:
Post a Comment