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Igbos
abandoned Asika, says Obasanjo
By Okey
Maduforo
Correspondent,
Awka
President
Olusegun Obasanjo has accused the Igbo of the South-East geopolitical zone
of abandoning the late Governor of East Central state, Dr Ukpabi Asika, to
his fate due to his views and ideals about the nation�s polity.
Obasanjo
also said that the misconception about Asika�s political ideology by the
political zone was the price the former governor had to pay through being
subjected to denials by his people.
Delivering
his oration at the burial of Asika in Onitsha, Obasanjo, who was
represented by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Obong Ufot
Ekaette, said that Asika paid the price of fighting for the unity of
Nigeria, noting that the country has lost one of its symbols of national
unity.
In the
same vein, former Nigerian head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, admired
the courage of Asika and his determination to see Nigeria united,
contending that his love for the Igbo and Nigeria made him accept the
appointment as an administrator for the East Central state during the
nation�s difficult period.
He urged
Nigerians to emulate the salient qualities of Asika, whom he said remained
firm and confident in the unity, progress and oneness of the country until
death came.
Also,
Chairman, National Planning Committee for Asika, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, lauded
what he called Asika�s crusade for one indivisible Nigeria, adding that he
laid down his life for Nigeria�s unity.
Joda,
however, stated that such personalities are few in the country, insisting
that Asika�s demise is a challenge to Nigerians to keep the country
one.
The late
administrator was buried at about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. According to the
custom and traditional practice of his town, a titleholder�s corpse is not
buried in the daytime.
Present
on the occasion are deputy governors of Abia, Enugu and Anambra States as
well as Governor Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State, General Theophilus Danjuma,
among others. But the arrival of embattled Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra
stole the show as no one expected that he would be at the funeral in view
of the upheavals he has been facing since November 10, 2004.
Meanwhile,
no traditional ruler of Igbo extraction was present at the funeral and no
reason was given for their absence.
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