‘’I Venerate Ojukwu For Power’’ , Says Umeh : Plans Mass Funeral For Biafran War Victims

                              

 The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has again dedicated his Abuja Court of Appeal victory on Wednesday to the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Umeh who stormed the late Biafran Warlord’s mausoleum yesterday in Nnewi Anambra State with hundreds of party supporters and admirers said “I venerate this great man to renew my strength; because the ‘war’ ahead is enormous".

He disagreed with certain people that his visit to Ojukwu’s grave each time he records victory is idolatry, stressing that what he does at the late sage’s grave is proper in Igbo cosmology, ethos and pathos.

He said “I came here to recharge my strength. Ojukwu groomed me for five years. Ikemba as the national leader of APGA for five years and myself as the national chairman of APGA shared many secret talks on how to guard the interest of Ndigbo in Nigeria."

Venerating at the Ojukwu grave on the occasion, Umeh said “Our father, the man of peace, we have come again. I have come with my brothers and sisters you left behind and asked me to guard them under the umbrella of our party APGA. We are here last year when we got victory at the courts and in the Anambra state Governorship election.

“We are here again to obtain power and authority from you to subdue our enemies. We call upon you, great leader, to get your blessing once more to continue to lead your people under APGA from strength to strength. The task ahead is enormous but we are sure of victory when you are behind us (he spoke in Igbo).

Apparently basking in the euphoria of the moment, Umeh who addressed the crowd after the veneration said, his party (APGA) would produce six governors in next year’s general elections.

"Arrangements are on ground to sweep the south east in 2015 general elections and to advance APGA cause in Lagos where we have told them to be ready for us because we will take over that state from the present occupiers. This we must do", The APGA leader said.

He used the forum to disclose that by September/October this year, the South East people would organize a mass funeral for those who lost their lives during the 30 month civil war in the country (1967-1970).

He said “ It is good and proper that such honours are given to them for paying thesupreme price in the annals of Igbo history to pacify their spirits.

He said he was in contact with leaders of thought in the zone to achieve that objective.

It should be recall that on Wednesday June 18th, the court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed Umeh’s National Chairmanship of APGA in a unanimous decision as it set aside the judgment of an Abuja Federal high court which had earlier sacked him and the National Secretary of the Party, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi as the national chairman and secretary, respectively of APGA.

From Nwafor Okafor