Enugu— President Goodluck Jonathan, Thursday, acknowledged contributions of the late former Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu towards the unity of the country, describing him as “a rare patriot and humanist.” The president, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the national inter-denominational funeral rites and lying-in-state for Ojukwu at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, said he had no hesitation in describing the Ikemba Nnewi as a rare patriot because his life epitomized enduring love for his country. Ojukwu was rare patriot —Jonathan “Ojukwu was indeed a rare patriot because his life epitomized enduring love for the country he belonged to and a special place of Nigeria, a relentless critical love. Critical, because he wanted to be the best he could be, a civil, just, prosperous and a united nation where no one is oppressed and a rare humanist because his love for humanity was particularly defined by self sacrifice,” President Jonathan said in a special tribute in honour of the late Igbo icon. According to him, Ojukwu’s contribution in the nation’s political sphere cannot be overlooked, stressing that after his ordeal, he (Ojukwu) continued to play a major role in the advancement of the Igbo nation in a democracy. “Ojukwu has played significant role in Nigeria’s return to democracy since the Fourth Republic began in 1999. He has contested as the presidential candidate of his party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, for the last three elections and until his illness he remained the party leader, the party that was in control of two states and largely influential among the Igbo ethnic area of Nigeria. The president said he was committed to ensuring that all the wounds of the past were healed completely and that “we do not ignore the lessons of the past as we strive to build a great nation that justifies the labour of our past heroes, Ojukwu inclusive.” Jonathan said the achievements that set Ojukwu apart and which had made him subject of “edifying posthumous commentaries,” though undeniably solid, were far from personal. He said: “They were solid altruistic achievements of a man whose life epitomized love and self sacrifice. For only such love could explain his preference for the great risk involved in the leadership role he assumed in his lifetime to the privileged background into which he was born.” Recalling how Ojukwu sailed to leadership limelight and how “he reluctantly accepted the role that perhaps most critically defined his place in the history of our country,” the president also noted how the late Biafran leader, “despite his reluctances, acquitted himself quite historically, heroically while fulfilling that role not withstanding the difficult odds that stood against his side” during the civil war. He loved Nigeria so much —Gowon In his tribute, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, said Dim Ojukwu would ever be remembered for “his courage, focus, boldness and unwavering desire to fight for justice, equity and fair play for his people.” Gowon whose tribute was delivered by Prof. Benjamin Marere, Coordinator of Nigeria Prays, said: “Dim Ojukwu loved Nigeria so much, he merely wanted to opt out over perceived injustice to his people.” Praying that God grant Ojukwu’s soul eternal rest, Gowon promised to pay a special visit to the bereaved family when he returns from his trip to the United States. His exit, a huge void — Anyaoku In his tribute, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said news of the death of Ojukwu struck him not just on account that his exit means a huge void in the lives of many Nigerians he touched, but also because he was a personal friend. “All his entire life, Emeka Ojukwu was devoted to the pursuit of excellence in whatever he engaged himself. He was a witty administrator, a consummate soldier, an astute politician and unmistakable patriot. He was also a dignified epitome of stoicism, having endured his years in exile with complete equanimity and resilience that saw him excelling in his family’s tradition of hard work and industry,” he said.