Ojukwu set to celebrate 78th birthday

ALL is now set for the 78th birthday celebration of the ailing ex-Biafran leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, slated for November 4.

The wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Jonathan, as well as governors from the South-East geopolitical zone among others are expected to grace the occassion.

Briefing select journalists in Enugu, on the preparations for the septuagenarian’s birthday, the leader of the outlawed Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, said the celebration would be held at the Enugu residence of the Ikemba of Nnewi, although the celebrant might not be physically present on the occasion.

Chief Uwazuruike, who used the briefing to warn politicians who used the name of the ex-war lord to gain cheap popularity, reiterated that Chief Ojukwu was still hale and hearty.

“The MASSOB feel it is proper for the world to know that our leader, Ojukwu, is still hale and hearty,” he added.

Chief Uwazurike disclosed that the event, which would take place at the Government Reservation Area (GRA) home of the celebrant, would attract dignities from various parts of the country, including the Nigeria’s first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, as well as past and serving governors of South-East geopolitical zone of the country.

He said the event would be purely an interdenominational church service that would featured several bishops and pastors from various churches , adding that the significant of the exercise “is to let the entire world know that Ojukwu still remains the leader and icon of Ndigbo no matter his condition.”