A leader of thought in Imo State and member of erstwhile Igbo Council of Chiefs, Chief Solomon Okonkwo is worried over how some politicians are messing up the name of their late leader, Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu. Chief Okonkwo, national chairman of Igbo Forum, a pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, who has played a lot of roles in Lagos politics, also expressed his fears over Governor Rochas Okorocha’s romance with the All Progressives Congress (APC), even as he spoke on other issues concerning the Igbo nation in interview with our correspondence
How do you see the recent death of Chinua Achebe and the elaborate burial being organised for him?
The death of Ojukwu, Achebe and other eminent Igbo men is a good omen. A generation is passing. They fought a good fight. Although they did not totally win, they have passed something to the next generation to see how Ndigbo is hated. It was a surprise that Achebe, despite all his writings, did not win the Nobel Prize. He was given some National honours, which he rejected because of the condition of Ndigbo. His last book, ‘There was a country’, is the truth which he left for the future generation. Whatever honour Ndigbo is planning for Achebe, he deserves it. But it is sad that Ohanaeze Ndigbo does not honour Igbo eminent men when they are alive. I believe that one day, this attitude of not honouring our eminent sons when they are alive will change.
On the APGA factional National Chairman, Victor Umeh, do you think it was right for Ojukwu’s son to have allowed Umeh the privilege to go and weep at his father’s grave?
To me, a good and loving son should not have allowed the sacred and honored name of his father to be enmeshed in partisan political battle. I am pleading with Ojukwu’s children, especially the son, Emeka, to try and resist the temptation of allowing people to use Ojukwu’s name for political battles of selfish aggrandizement. Ojukwu is Eze-Igbo Gburu Gburu. So, he should not destroy the name which is held in high esteem. By so doing, he will be in conflict with all Igbo who see Ojukwu as a great hero. He should not allow Umeh to destroy the only thing owned by all, which all Igbo are ready to die for, which is the name, Eze Igbo Gburu Gburu. Umeh and Emeka do not own the name. I am using this medium to plead with all Igbo of goodwill to stop those who wish to appropriate the name of Ojukwu for selfish ends.
Given that Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, took very good care of Ojukwu during his ill health and ensured that he got a heroic burial, do you think Umeh’s action at Ojukwu’s grave will have adverse effect on Obi?
Ojukwu’s son wants to be relevant, but he is doing it in the wrong way. He can still be somebody without messing up his father’s name. Obi played a lot of roles during the ill health of Ojukwu and his burial. We all saw it. It was not a hidden fact. So, Emeka should not work against Obi now. I have studied Umeh’s brand of politics. He always bites the hands that feed him. Emeka should not follow such a person, but should emulate his father.
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