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| Bianca |
Just a glance at her picture published on front page of Daily Sun, Monday, November 28, 2011 and the devastating grief and crushing loss she has suffered would hit you even if your heart is made of stone. And hers was not that of showmanship which some widows of high profile Nigerians put up when the high and mighty visit them for condolences.
Hers was a genuine grief for a man she loved passionately and sacrificed her youth to care for him. Bianca Ojukwu, a former beauty queen and daughter of a former Anambra governor, Christian Onoh is in distress and she does not need to utter a word for the world to know. Her face says it all.
There is no doubt that millions of Nigerians, especially Igbos are experiencing one from of pain and anguish or another over the passing on of the people’s hero, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu, former Head of State of Biafra and symbol of Igbo resistance and resilience. But Bianca’s grief is more pronounced because Ojukwu had become her life, the ground upon which she walked and worshipped. While others would wail and walk away, Bianca, until she dies would he assailed by memories of love shared, challenges conquered, anxiety suffered and conflicts resolved.
In her children, Bianca would be reminded of her husband whose love turned her a rebel against the wishes of her father and the false standards of a judging society. She knew she could not live with Ojukwu for 40 years for the man was in his mid 50s when love struck them both. But she still plunged into the marriage which many did not give a chance to last five years. And for 22 years she savoured the marriage, taking everyday as it came. The dream was to end one day, but not soon for a woman who confessed that she was more of a practical person than being romantic.
That was why even when doctors gave up on Ojukwu, Bianca never did. “I thought he would make it”, she lamented. Yes, every genuine Igbo man thought Ojukwu would make it. He represented so many things to so many people. He was the quintessential leader whose love for his people drove him to take up arms to defend them. Even at his old age, he was still worried over the injustices against Ndigbo. For two times, he contested the presidency, not necessarily to win, but to give back confidence to Ndigbo. He died that we may live as equals in a Nigerian state that despises the Igbos but strangely, does not want them to leave the forced union.
The frustration and unrealized dream for his people hastened the death of Ojukwu. Bianca knew that much and had pleaded unsuccessfully for the unrepentant warrior to give up the struggle and face his family. But that was a wrong advice which was not heeded to. What other family did Ojukwu have outside Ndigbo? When his age mates were ensconced in the comfort of paid employment, he led Biafra against a murderous Nigerian army financed and assisted with weapons by neocolonialists.
He wept over the kwashiokor ravaged bodies of innocent Biafran children because certain individuals introduced starvation policy and economic blockage against Igbos. Were it in his power, a word from him would have saved all Igbos from humiliation, hunger and deprivations. Unfortunately, he was not God.
Yes, the God who created him a hero for his people has decreed his end. As Bianca said, who are we to question God? While we cannot question God, we need to implore Him to send Ndigbo a worthy successor. You can now see the burden which Bianca bears. Her husband will never come back to her, but God can send Igbos his replacement as He did for the Israelites. Joshua completed the task of Moses. Solomon built God’s temple after his father, David became war weary. But can anybody really be another Ojukwu?
Expectedly prominent Nigerians from President Goodluck Jonathan to those who stifled the aspirations of Ndigbo as represented by Ojukwu have continued to eulogize him. Some have taken it upon themselves to open condolence registers and pronounce mourning period. Even those that hated Ojukwu now think he was a saint. We have seen this kind of circus show before. It would also not end with Ojukwu.
But my worry is that after the burial of Ojukwu, what becomes the fate of Ndigbo? What also becomes the fate of Bianca, her widow? With our individualistic and materialistic tendencies, do we have selfless men who can attempt to take the place of Ojukwu? Do we have courageous men willing to sacrifice their lives and comfort in pursuit of the goals which Ojukwu believed in and died for? Do we have people who would not be Lot’s wife if faced with the kind of challenge that presented itself to Ojukwu in 1966 until May 30, 1967? I am afraid that Ndiigbo have been truly orphaned with the death of Ojukwu.
As for the widow, Bianca, she should be prepared for the shock that lies ahead of her. Her Enugu residence used to be a bee hive of activities when her husband was alive. Now he is dead, let her not dream beyond the companionship of her family members. The big time politicians would no longer be there, except those who would like to “taste the master’s chop”. Those who used to revere her would now give her a wide berth for she no longer has favour to dispense. That is life. And that is the life of an average Igboman.
Indeed, with Ikemba’s death, came to me the memories of the great man’s journey to Agulu last year for the burial of Chief Victor Umeh, APGA’s national chairman’s mother’s burial. I was privileged to be a member of that delegation. It was the time politicians were fighting for APGA’s tickets for elections. Bianca was a goddess to be worshipped. People came with bags of money and other gifts to enable her to put in a word for them. She was graceful, respectful and homely. Now with the death of her husband, such fawning has come to an end.
She is now alone, without her husband. But she has good company in Governor Peter Obi and his wife, Margaret, who understand the meaning of the word, gratitude. As she mourns the passage of her husband, let Bianca be consoled with this fact: that amongst Igbos living or dead, her husband, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu remains the most respected and revered. I really wish I could be half respected even in my family meeting.
Kalu writes from Lagos.
Hers was a genuine grief for a man she loved passionately and sacrificed her youth to care for him. Bianca Ojukwu, a former beauty queen and daughter of a former Anambra governor, Christian Onoh is in distress and she does not need to utter a word for the world to know. Her face says it all.
There is no doubt that millions of Nigerians, especially Igbos are experiencing one from of pain and anguish or another over the passing on of the people’s hero, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu, former Head of State of Biafra and symbol of Igbo resistance and resilience. But Bianca’s grief is more pronounced because Ojukwu had become her life, the ground upon which she walked and worshipped. While others would wail and walk away, Bianca, until she dies would he assailed by memories of love shared, challenges conquered, anxiety suffered and conflicts resolved.
In her children, Bianca would be reminded of her husband whose love turned her a rebel against the wishes of her father and the false standards of a judging society. She knew she could not live with Ojukwu for 40 years for the man was in his mid 50s when love struck them both. But she still plunged into the marriage which many did not give a chance to last five years. And for 22 years she savoured the marriage, taking everyday as it came. The dream was to end one day, but not soon for a woman who confessed that she was more of a practical person than being romantic.
That was why even when doctors gave up on Ojukwu, Bianca never did. “I thought he would make it”, she lamented. Yes, every genuine Igbo man thought Ojukwu would make it. He represented so many things to so many people. He was the quintessential leader whose love for his people drove him to take up arms to defend them. Even at his old age, he was still worried over the injustices against Ndigbo. For two times, he contested the presidency, not necessarily to win, but to give back confidence to Ndigbo. He died that we may live as equals in a Nigerian state that despises the Igbos but strangely, does not want them to leave the forced union.
The frustration and unrealized dream for his people hastened the death of Ojukwu. Bianca knew that much and had pleaded unsuccessfully for the unrepentant warrior to give up the struggle and face his family. But that was a wrong advice which was not heeded to. What other family did Ojukwu have outside Ndigbo? When his age mates were ensconced in the comfort of paid employment, he led Biafra against a murderous Nigerian army financed and assisted with weapons by neocolonialists.
He wept over the kwashiokor ravaged bodies of innocent Biafran children because certain individuals introduced starvation policy and economic blockage against Igbos. Were it in his power, a word from him would have saved all Igbos from humiliation, hunger and deprivations. Unfortunately, he was not God.
Yes, the God who created him a hero for his people has decreed his end. As Bianca said, who are we to question God? While we cannot question God, we need to implore Him to send Ndigbo a worthy successor. You can now see the burden which Bianca bears. Her husband will never come back to her, but God can send Igbos his replacement as He did for the Israelites. Joshua completed the task of Moses. Solomon built God’s temple after his father, David became war weary. But can anybody really be another Ojukwu?
Expectedly prominent Nigerians from President Goodluck Jonathan to those who stifled the aspirations of Ndigbo as represented by Ojukwu have continued to eulogize him. Some have taken it upon themselves to open condolence registers and pronounce mourning period. Even those that hated Ojukwu now think he was a saint. We have seen this kind of circus show before. It would also not end with Ojukwu.
But my worry is that after the burial of Ojukwu, what becomes the fate of Ndigbo? What also becomes the fate of Bianca, her widow? With our individualistic and materialistic tendencies, do we have selfless men who can attempt to take the place of Ojukwu? Do we have courageous men willing to sacrifice their lives and comfort in pursuit of the goals which Ojukwu believed in and died for? Do we have people who would not be Lot’s wife if faced with the kind of challenge that presented itself to Ojukwu in 1966 until May 30, 1967? I am afraid that Ndiigbo have been truly orphaned with the death of Ojukwu.
As for the widow, Bianca, she should be prepared for the shock that lies ahead of her. Her Enugu residence used to be a bee hive of activities when her husband was alive. Now he is dead, let her not dream beyond the companionship of her family members. The big time politicians would no longer be there, except those who would like to “taste the master’s chop”. Those who used to revere her would now give her a wide berth for she no longer has favour to dispense. That is life. And that is the life of an average Igboman.
Indeed, with Ikemba’s death, came to me the memories of the great man’s journey to Agulu last year for the burial of Chief Victor Umeh, APGA’s national chairman’s mother’s burial. I was privileged to be a member of that delegation. It was the time politicians were fighting for APGA’s tickets for elections. Bianca was a goddess to be worshipped. People came with bags of money and other gifts to enable her to put in a word for them. She was graceful, respectful and homely. Now with the death of her husband, such fawning has come to an end.
She is now alone, without her husband. But she has good company in Governor Peter Obi and his wife, Margaret, who understand the meaning of the word, gratitude. As she mourns the passage of her husband, let Bianca be consoled with this fact: that amongst Igbos living or dead, her husband, General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu remains the most respected and revered. I really wish I could be half respected even in my family meeting.
Kalu writes from Lagos.
Culled from : Daily Sun
pls is ojukwu is iluminati?
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