OKOROCHA CALLS FOR CREATION OF MORE STATES IN SOUTH-EAST TO HONOUR OJUKWU

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Monday demanded the creation of additional states for the South-East to honour Chief Chukwuemeka Odumuegwu-Ojukwu.

Okorocha made the call at a ceremony he organised to receive the remains of Ojukwu at the Heros' Square in Owerri.

It will be recalled that the people of Imo, including traditional rulers, politicians and other dignitaries trooped out in their numbers to pay their last respect to the late Ikemba Nnewi.

Okorocha noted that under the leadership of Ojukwu, the latent resourcefulness and ingenuity of black Africa was brought to the full attention of the watching world, adding that the only way to honour him, was to create one more state for the South-East.

He described Ojukwu as a hero and a man of destiny, who abandoned the comfort of his rich family to fight for the cause of his people.

Okorocha said that the Igbos would continue to remember Ojukwu for 'the imagination he brought to the leadership of the young Biafra in a difficult war period.''

'The many feats achieved by his Biafran engineers (without any foreign technicians and inputs), including the construction of a functioning airport, effective weapons and 'novel' petroleum refineries, described by a British newspaper as a manufacturing workshop, is already a historical immortality,'' he said.

The governor said that Ojukwu was the greatest patriot of the Nigerian nation who prevented the loss of lives of people from the Northern and Southern regions and reduced the magnitude of genocide perpetrated against the eastern people living in the regions.

'Lying still before us is our charismatic hero and the man of destiny which historical immortality will remember for his courageous, doggedness and selfless service to us.

'Ojukwu is love personified and chooses to die for the cause of his people. He will be remembered for his powerful oratory prowess and eloquence,' he said.

Okorocha thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the moral and financial support he gave to Ojukwu and his family throughout his stay in the U.K.

Part of the reception ceremony was heavy fireworks, 21 gun salute and the laying of wreath by eminent Nigerians and some governors, including those from Anambra, Ekiti and Kwara some of whom sent representatives. (NAN)