Ojukwu’s controversial Will: how will it affect his legacy?

Ojukwu’s Will: how will it affect his legacy?
By Nkem Ekeopara

Exclusive & Special to  USAfricaonline.com,  the USAfrica-powered e-groups of  Nigeria360, IgboEvents, UNNalumni,  and CLASSmagazine Houston.

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USAfrica, Dec 3, 2012: The foibles of men of history, power and influence played out on November 30, 2012 when the Will of the former Biafran leader, late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was read at

the Enugu High Court in Enugu State, South-eastern Nigeria. Rather than soothe strained nerves, the content of the Will appears to have set the already feuding members of departed great man’s household on more troubling conflicts. It has been widely described as controversial.

To begin with not all key members of his household were present at the Enugu High Court for the reading of the Will. As expected, his widow, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu was present. But conspicuously absent were Emeka Ojukwu Jr. and his brothers.

Also, not present was Sylvester Debe Ojukwu, a son he had while he was an Administrative Officer in Udi, the same locality where his widow hail from, who an insider told me he never really recognized as his while alive. Not only was Sylvester Ojukwu not in court, but General Ojukwu did not mention him in the list of his eight children in the Will. This is unfortunate for someone who had been quite unrelenting in projecting General Ojukwu’s image since his demise. Instead, one of his daughters, hitherto unknown to members of his family or the public, Tenny Harman, made the list.

Although he appointed Emeka Ojukwu Jr. together with Bianca, the late Igwe of Oraukwu and one James Chukwuneme as trustees and executors of the Will, the younger Ojukwu has flatly rejected the content of the Will, which some commentators are saying disproportionately favored Bianca and her two children.

Aside from the Will rightfully, in my own opinion, awarding her (Bianca) Ojukwu’s Enugu mansion, which she shared with her late husband and that is named after her, “Casabianca”, the Will quite intriguingly said that she or her representative should replace him on the board of the Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL. The OTL is the company founded by the late Ojukwu’s multibillionaire father, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu with lot assets for his successive generations. Most of these assets are concentrated in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial.

Instructively, Bianca and her two sons had earlier taken Ojukwu brothers to a Lagos High Court over one of the assets of OTL located at 29 Queen’s Drive Ikoyi, Lagos that used be home to the late General. Those who were at the court when the Will was read said she was highly relieved to know that the Ojukwu awarded his stake in OTL to her and her children.

In addition, General Ojukwu willed two properties located in Jabi and Kuje areas in Abuja, and all his personal effects, monies and cars for Bianca and her children’s upkeep. Knowing that Bianca’s children are still growing up and in the process of acquiring the same level of education that Ojukwu might have given to his grownup children, some of these things bequeathed to them are justified. Two hectares of land located at Umuezeani Umudim Nnewi, were also allocated to Bianca. In Ojukwu’s will, the land will continue to be hers as long as she does not remarry.

His previously unknown daughter and first child from his list of eight offspring, Tenny Harman, got the Jubilee Hotels, Zaria or rather the proceeds from its sale since it was noted that it had been sold as well as a hectare of land, which he allotted to each of his daughters.

However, some informed Igbo elders are saying that in the spirit of transference of generational wealth, knowing that he was leaving behind a young woman who could easily remarry, that his stake in OTL should have gone to his first son, with a caveat that he shares the proceeds accruing from their stake in a proper ratio to all the children annually.

According to Emeka Ojukwu Jr. who got the family house in Umudim their hometown as it should be, for the Will to be read, himself and his brothers and all the beneficiaries would have to be present, adding that if the Will does not reflect the wish of his father, which they all know, that they will go to court. In order words, he does not accept that what the Chief Registrar, Enugu Judiciary and Probate, Mr. Denis Ekoh read at Enugu High Court on Friday, November 30,2012 as the authentic Will of his father.

So, as it is, the Will had been read, but appears not to have been read in the view of Emeka Ojukwu Jr. He has raised his objections and charged it’s fraudulent and rigged to benefit Bianca.

Generally, with the complicated developments and fights within the Odumegwu Ojukwu family, General Ojukwu’s controversial image in life is sure to remain in public consciousness longer than necessary. How will it affect his legacy?                                                                                                                                                                                                •Ekeopara, based in Nigeria, is a special correspondent and columnist for USAfricaonline.com and CLASSmagazine Houston.

Ojukwu trouble and Ikemba titles. By Chido Nwangwu, Founder & Publisher of USAfrica multimedia networks, first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper published on the internet USAfricaonline.com; and recipient of several journalism and public policy awards, was recently profiled by the CNN International for his pioneering works on multimedia/news/public policy projects for Africans and Americans.

News: At Ojukwu memorial in Dallas Texas, USAfrica’s Chido Nwangwu challenges the Igbo nation to say never again like Jews.

The greatest Igbo ODUMEGWU OJUKWU’s great farewell in Aba. By Chido Nwangwu   https://usafricaonline.com/2012/02/28/the-greatest-igbo-odumegwu-ojukwu-farewell-in-aba-by-chido-nwangwu

USAfrica: Ikemba ODUMEGWU OJUKWU’s farewell in Aba, today February 28, 2012, reflected a fitting tribute, historically meaningful celebration, proper regard and deserving appreciation of the greatest Igbo, in my opinion, to have ever lived (like him or hate him).

I SALUTE Aba (aka Enyimba city), the robust and fearless town I was born, bred and raised, for giving the Ikemba, our Ochiagha, Gburugburu, Oka oburu uzo, dike na ndu ma n’onwu, mgbadike anyi, a hero’s farewell.

To the Ikemba, may your valiant soul rest in peace and dignity.

We will, and I, Chido Nwangwu, will never forget to continue to tell my generation and the next about your towering courage through tempest and thunder; through sorrow, pain, tears, blood…. •Dr. Chido Nwangwu, Founder & Publisher of USAfrica multimedia networks, first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper published on the internet USAfricaonline.com; and recipient of several journalism and public policy awards, was recently profiled by the CNN International for his pioneering works on multimedia/news/public policy projects for Africans and Americans. 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/

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/