Ojukwu To Get FullNigerian Military Burial,Oya Massob Give Way!

There are indications that
the late Dim
Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu will
be accorded full military
honours in keeping with
the tradition of the
Nigerian Army.
The plan by the Army
came just as the Chairman
of the national committee
for the burial of Dim
Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu,
former Supreme Court
Justice, Chukwudifu Oputa
described the late Ikemba
as a rare patriot who lived
a life of unflinching love
for his fatherland.
THISDAY learnt that the
move by the military to
take over Ikemba's burial
has the support of the
Presidency which has
directed the Military High
Command to take charge
of the body till it is
interred.
Ojukwu was a very senior
military officer and the
first Military Governor of
Eastern Nigeria before the
civil war broke out. After
he was granted full
pardon, Ojukwu had all his
benefits restored as a
retired officer.
A family source told
THISDAY that with the
involvement of the army,
all protocols relating to
the movement of the
body, including the coffin,
clothing and logistics is to
be taken over by the
military.
"The Army has assured
that it would be involved
in the burial of late
Ojukwu and that it would
accord him all the military
rites due to a senior
military officer of his
stature," he said.
Meanwhile, as part of the
burial activities for the late
Igbo leader, a ceremony is
being held today in
Zungeru, Niger State
where the Ikemba was
born.
I wonder how MASSOB and
other Igbo separatists
would take having to
watch the Nigerian
Military handle the burial
ceremonies of their leader
and mentor. I sincerely
hope this burial will pass
without incident.