Zik, Ironsi, Ojukwu, Achebe, Fajuyi, Others to be Posthumously Honoured by Ohaneze

By Jude Atupulazi

The Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide will on September 29, bestow posthumous honours on some Igbo heroes and special Igbo allies during the 2023 Igbo Day celebration that will be held in Enugu.

A release by Ohaneze’s national publicity secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, gave the names of the recipients as Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe; Maj Gen Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi; Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu; Dr Alex Ekwueme; Dr Akanu Ibiam; Col Adekunle Fajuyi; Chief Michael Okpara; Gen Phillip Effiong; Chief Sam Mbakwe; Professor Chinua Achebe, and Alhaji Ado Bayero.

The president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said the idea behind the posthumous awards to Igbo icons and the Igbo special allies was an expression of the Igbo attachment to excellence, steadfastness, gratitude and deep sense of History, adding that it served as an encouragement, motivation and inspiration not only to the families of the deceased icons but to all the younger generations at large. The event will be chaired by Prince Engr Arthur Eze.

Ohanaeze, in the release, expressed joy that peace was gradually returning to South East. The pan-Igbo group however, called for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, having been set free by the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

The release quoted Chief Iwuanyanwu as calling for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, arguing that a court of competent jurisdiction had already freed Kanu and wondered why he was still being incarcerated.