At Ojukwu memorial in Dallas, USAfrica’s Chido Nwangwu challenges the Igbo nation to say “never again” like Jews.
The pictures of the event are already on the African diaspora’s events mega-site www.PhotoWorks.TV http://photoworks.tv/ojukwu-memorial-event-dallas-pics-video-by-chido-nwangwu-usafrica
Special to USAfricaonline.com, the USAfrica-powered e-groups of Nigeria360, IgboEvents, UNNalumni, and CLASSmagazine Houston.
At the February 4, 2012 successful, solemn and message-filled ceremonies in Dallas (Texas) celebrating the life and meaning of the late, charismatic leader of the Republic of Biafra, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Igbo and other nationalities have been called upon to to profit from the key lesson of Ojukwu’s public service: selfless dedication and courage to stand up to the challenges of history.
The Ojukwu memorial event townhall keynote speaker, Founder & Publisher of Houston-based USAfrica multimedia networks Dr. Chido Nwangwu challenged and had the audience of almost 500 persons, Biafran war veterans, priests and Igbo teens chanting “never again” when he said: “I call on the Igbo nation, the Igbo leadership and the younger generation Igbo to draw a line in history, pledge a commitment and say ‘never again.’ The Igbo should learn from Ojukwu’s resolve and sacrifices during Biafra and say never again shall the Igbo be killed;
never again will the Igbo and the world allow almost 3 million of their fellow Igbo to be killed. The Igbo must say, learn and live like the Jews did after the Holocaust inflicted by Hitler by saying ‘never again’ and protecting their own. Join me in saying ‘never again.”
Chido Nwangwu, recently profiled by CNN International for his work on public policy and multimedia, looked back at the history of Nigeria to assert that “46 years ago, Odumegwu Ojukwu saw the future of Nigeria and courageously confronted the radical zealotry of the forefathers and godfathers of today’s Boko Haram since 1966 in Nigeria.” He added that “Odumegwu Ojukwu is etched, permanently, on the minds of the Igbo nation and its people the same way the lines on the palm of my hands remain a permanent part of my being….”
He recalled that his first interview with the late Ojukwu took place in 1988 at the former Biafran leader’s Villaska Lodge home in Victoria Island, Lagos (in the company of Dr. Chuba Okadigbo who served as political adviser to Nigeria’s President Shagari and later became President of Nigeria’s Senate and writer Dr. Chidi Amuta); and two other interviews in the U.S.
One of the remarkable parts of the event sponsored by the Igbo Community Association of Nigeria (ICAN) occurred when the Biafran veterans drawn from the Dallas- Fort Worth area marched, folded and delivered a flag of Biafra to the extended Odumegwu Ojukwu family attending the special honor. It was taken with a salute by Mrs. Vero Anuligo (nee Ojukwu). Capt. Baldwin (Longus) Izuchukwu Ihemelu (former commander of 2nd Battalion, 67 Brigade, “S” Div. during the Biafra/Nigeria civil war (1967-1970) was the Commander of the Biafra Veteran Squad and inspector of the guard of honor at the Gen. Ojukwu’s memorial ceremony in Dallas/Forth Worth Area. 2nd Lt Paul Iwuchukwu led the parade.
The commendation, inter-denominational service was led by Venerable Dr. Ernest Oramasionwu, Rev. John Ubabuco, Rev. Ike Ogujiofor, Rev. Dr. Gabe Echendu, Rev. Dan Ofoegbu, Ven. Ndukaku Okereke and Rev. Fr. Arthur Unachukwu.
The prolific novelist and former staff of the Chief Chike Momah delivered an eulogy where he said “I join everyone else in saying to Dim Emeka Ojukwu: You were divinely ordained to be our man of destiny and, but for the obscenely insurmountable odds stacked against you, you would have fulfilled that destiny. But your work may not necessarily have come to a full stop with your passing. You have lit a flame which seems temporarily to have been extinguished. But the idea and notion of Biafra lives on. And, sooner or later, the world – the United Nations Organization – will sit up, and do for the Igbo what it has done for Southern Sudan. And when that happens, you – our Eze Igbo Gburugburu – would finally have a memorial befitting your unparalleled work and strivings for your people.”
The grand dame Oyibo Odinamadu who could not make the event due to ill health sent in a message noting that Ojukwu “was indeed the peoples’ beloved hero and king! He bravely, courageously, and heroically led Biafra in the War of Survival. And there was also another hero who, affected the peaceful surrender for Biafra, negotiated for Biafra, and led us, into survival of Peace, and no general massacre!”
There were dance performances by Igbo youth of ICAN Dallas Fort Worth and Anambra Women dance, Abigbo Mbaise, masquerade dances Odogwu and Okwonma Awka.
An outstanding delivery of Igbo news was read by Chukwuemeka Iwuji while the able master of ceremonies for the event was Paul Okeke aka Dakwasienyi.
The chairperson of the committee Nnaerika Okonkwo told USAfrica and IgboEvents that “ICAN committee is very appreciative of the effort of the entire Igbo community, the speakers, ministers, veterans and the Odumegwu Ojukwu family for making it a special day honoring our late hero.”
USAfrica notes that the ICAN President Sam Nwankwo, committee members Nnaerika Okonkwo, attorney Charles Maduka, Mrs. Ethel Momah, Ada Nworah, Ijele Anozie, Chima Ahanotu, Cyril Maduagwu, Emmanuel Ogwo, Ike Agbo, Amechi Onoh, Bede Ikeokpara, Philip Odoemena, Philip Ozoani, Ogbogu Achonwa, financial secretary of ICAN Ejike Arizor, Engr. Okafor and several others worked tirelessly to make a success of the history-making event. Sylvan Odobulu flew in from Houston to support the event which had the attendance of former president of ICAN attorney Bernard Nwaiwu, former president of Nzuko Umu Aro Dallas Chris Onyeador, former president Orlu Regional Assembly Emeka Iwunze, Peoples Club Arlington chapter president Emma Okafor, Eze Walter Ekwu, Peoples Club Dallas chapter president Onyekachi Okoro, Eddie Osuagwu, Ike Ginigeme and several persons.
The pictures of the event are already on the African diaspora’s events mega-site www.PhotoWorks.TV http://photoworks.tv/ojukwu-memorial-event-dallas-pics-video-by-chido-nwangwu-usafrica
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USAfrica, and first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper published on the internet USAfricaonline.com; The Black Business Journal, CLASSmagazine, PhotoWorks.TV, AchebeBooks.com, Nigeria360, USAfricaTV and several blogs, assessed by The New York TImes as the largest and arguably most influential multimedia networks for Africans and Americans. News@USAfricaonline.com. wireless: 1-832-45-CHIDO (24436). Office: 713-270-5500.
• For seasoned insights and breaking news on these issues, log on to USAfricaonline.com and USAfrica powered e-groups including Nigeria360 at yahoogroups and USAfrica at googlegroups. Follow us at Facebook.com/USAfricaChido and Twitter.com/Chido247
Obama’s Africa agenda, our business and democracy. By Chido Nwangwu, Publisher of USAfricaonline.com and CLASS magazine and The Black Business Journal
www.usafricaonline.com/chido.ngrtalibans09.html
USAfrica: As Egypt’s corrupter-in-chief Mubarak slides into history’s dustbin. By Chido Nwangwu. https://usafricaonline.com/2011/01/30/chido-nwangwu-as-egypt-corrupter-in-chief-mubarak-slides-into-historys-dustbin-egyptians-not-waiting-for-obama-and-united-nations/
Why Chinua Achebe, the Eagle on the Iroko, is Africa’s writer of the century. By Chido Nwangwu, Publisher of USAfrica, and first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper published on the internet USAfricaonline.com https://usafricaonline.com/chido.achebebest.html
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VIDEO of the CNN International broadcast/profile of USAfrica and CLASSmagazine Publisher Chido Nwangwu. http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2010/07/29/mpa.african.media.bk.a.cnn
Nigeria’s Federal Republic of Insecurity. By Chido Nwangwu, Publisher of USAfrica, USAfricaonline.com and the Nigeria360 e-group. https://usafricaonline.com/2011/12/17/nigeria-federal-republic-of-insecurity-by-chido-nwangwu/ : IF any of the Nigerian President’s 100 advisers has the polite courage for the extraordinary task of reminding His Excellency of his foremost, sworn, constitutional obligation to the national interest about security and safety of Nigerians and all who sojourn in Nigeria, please whisper clearly to Mr. President that I said, respectfully: Nigerians, at home and abroad, are still concerned and afraid for living in what I call Nigeria’s Federal Republic of Insecurity. FULL text of commentary at USAfricaonline.com https://usafricaonline.com/2011/12/17/nigeria-federal-republic-of-insecurity-by-chido-nwangwu/
Related insight: USAfrica’s October 17, 2001 special report/alert: Nigeria’s bin-Laden cheerleaders could ignite religious war, destabilize Africa. By USAfrica’s Publisher Chido Nwangwu. https://usafricaonline.com/chido.binladennigeria.html
https://usafricaonline.com/tag/al-qaeda/
Related and prior reporting on the Jos crises on USAfrica, click here: https://usafricaonline.com/2011/08/16/10-killed-in-renewed-violence-near-jos/
News archives related to Jos, here https://usafricaonline.com/?s=jos
310 killed by Nigeria’s ‘talibans’ in Bauchi, Yobe n Maiduguri; crises escalate. USAfricaonline.com on July 28, 2009. www.usafricaonline.com/chido.ngrtalibans09.html
http://www.groundreport.com/World/310-killed-by-Nigerias-talibans-in-Bauchi-Yobe-n-M/2904584
USAfrica: As Egypt’s corrupter-in-chief Mubarak slides into history’s dustbin. By Chido Nwangwu. https://usafricaonline.com/2011/01/30/chido-nwangwu-as-egypt-corrupter-in-chief-mubarak-slides-into-historys-dustbin-egyptians-not-waiting-for-obama-and-united-nations/
Tunisia, Egypt . . . Is Nigeria next? By Prof. Rosaire Ifedi https://usafricaonline.com/2011/02/13/tunisia-egypt-is-nigeria-next-by-prof-rosaire-ifedi/
In the light of an icon, my mentor Stanley Macebuh (1942-2010). By Chido Nwangwu https://usafricaonline.com/2011/03/07/stanley-macebuh-tribute-by-chido-nwangwu/
