The Federal Government is not likely to accord Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu a full state burial as originally planned, government sources told THISDAY Thursday. But the Senate, in a unanimous resolution Thursday, asked the Federal Government to immortalise him by naming a prominent establishment after him. The Federal Government also plans to immortalise him, although the nature of the gesture is still under consideration. A senior government official said while it was agreed by all concerned that Ojukwu deserves a state burial, the “security implications” of the involvement of the pro-secession Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in the funeral might have truncated the idea. “Ojukwu is a man of the masses, clearly,” the official said, “so we expect a mass turnout at his burial. However, a security analysis based on reports shows that MASSOB intends to take full control of the burial. There is likely to be a clash between MASSOB supporters and security agencies. The consequences do not look good and that is not the way to honour an important figure like Ojukwu. He deserves a burial without incidents.” “We understand that MASSOB is also planning to wrap his coffin in the Biafran flag to honour a man who was their political and spiritual mentor,” the official told THISDAY. The new plan is to send a higher-powered delegation which will still serve the purpose of recognising the role Ojukwu played in the history of Nigeria, the official said. Under a state burial arrangement, the coffin would be wrapped in the Nigerian national flag, while the military would honour the man reputed as the first graduate to join the Nigerian army. He rose to the rank of Colonel and was administrator of the defunct Eastern region before declaring the Republic of Biafra in 1967, leading to a 30-month war which ended in 1970. A major incident was avoided in Nnewi, Ojukwu’s hometown, on Wednesday as about 500 members of the little-known Biafran Zionist Movement (BZM) stormed the commercial city, singing war songs and waving the Biafran flag. BZM President, Benjamin Onwuka, who is said to be living in the United States, led the group. The members shared pamphlets calling for the Igbo to secede from Nigeria to escape “Islamisation, Boko Haram and Islamic banking”. THISDAY had reported on Monday that although some hardliners might be opposed to giving Ojukwu a state burial because he led a rebel army that almost broke up the country, "the fact remains that at the end of the civil war in 1970, the Federal Government declared a 'No Victor, No Vanquished' stand", a presidential source had said. Meanwhile, the Red Chamber of the National Assembly was literally drowned in an outpouring of emotion Thursday, as senator after senator rained tributes on Ojukwu. And at the end of three hours of debate, the senators unanimously asked the Federal Government to name a prominent establishment after him. They also urged the eight states created from the old Eastern Region where Ojukwu was military governor, namely Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Anambra, to give him a befitting burial. These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Andy Uba (PDP, Anambra) and 51 others. Many of the senators who spoke on the motion said Nigerians would forever miss the good leadership qualities of Ojukwu, with Senate President David Mark remarking that “the history of this country will be totally incomplete without bringing Ojukwu’s name in a very conspicuous manner”. Presenting the motion, Uba noted that “the Ikemba was a source of pride for those who had the opportunity to experience him, and he stood tall against elements of injustice, segregation and oppression,” adding that his death is “a monumental loss not only to his family, the Igbo land and Nigeria but also to the entire African continent at large”. Seconding the motion, Senator Uche Chukwumerije (PDP, Abia) noted that Ojukwu “lived in Nigeria in an era when Nigeria was peopled by Nigerians unlike now when the country is peopled by various tribes and ethnic nationalities”. Chukwumerije, who was uncharacteristically decked in black safari suit instead of his usual all-white attire, said Ojukwu believed that justice and human rights are necessary for the existence of a nation, adding that he “was the most reluctant actor in the call for secession”. He therefore called on the Federal Government to give the late Ikemba a posthumous award of GCON. Also eulogising Ojukwu, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Solomon (ACN, Lagos), said he took up the responsibility as a leader of his region at the time he did, when it was necessary to do so, adding that it was the only option at the time he could have taken. On his part, Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdu Ningi (PDP, Bauchi), said: “Ojukwu has seen it all. His low point was the war, but his highpoint was his return from exile and expression of support for a united Nigeria” To Senator Hope Uzodima (PDP, Imo), Ojukwu was a great man who led a struggle for justice and should therefore be immortalised. Senator Smart Adeyemi (PDP, Kogi) said Ojukwu was destined to play the role he played in the country’s history, pointing out that “over the years, we have experienced even far worse situations than those that created the civil war”. Also contributing to the debate, Senator Bukola Saraki (PDP, Kwara) noted that Ojukwu’s leadership qualities are missing in most of the country’s leaders today, saying: “He should therefore be celebrated”. Rounding off the debate, Senate President David Mark said: “We believe he is a great Nigerian. Unless you love Nigeria in those days, you will not join the army. To join the army at the time was to defend the country. “Ojukwu led Biafra at the time to technological development. He developed their APCs. Why have we not been able to draw from that? “We must admit that he had radical ideas, maybe he lived before his time. It is important that you cannot discuss Ojukwu without discussing Gowon, Hassan Katsina and others who lived in their time.”