BOKO HARAM IS THE RESULT OF NORTH'S BID FOR POWER, CHUKWUMERIJE.

BOKO HARAM IS THE RESULT OF NORTH'S BID FOR POWER, 

CHUKWUMERIJE.

LESS than seven months to his 76th birthday, former Information Minister and Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, yesterday, passed on after a long

combat with lung cancer.

Uche Chukwumerije

Announcing his demise, yesterday, his son, Chidi Chukwumerije, in a four-paragraph statement said his family has lost an inspirational icon. 

The statement entitled: “The Passing of An inspirational Icon,” read: “On the evening of Sunday, April 19, 2015, surrounded by his family, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije passed into the open arms of history, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, after a long but gallant battle with lung cancer. His life is many volumes, which can only be told with care and time, of dedication and focus, integrity and discipline, and an unbroken love for the highest ideals of our shared humanity. Details of burial arrangements will be announced in due course. We ask only for your prayers and good wishes.’’

Rumoured to have died last December, which he refuted as the handiwork of “a few ungodly and irresponsible individuals,” Chukwumerije’s death threw the Igbo community and some leaders into mourning.

Below are excerpts of some political outbursts of the Igbo political Iroko who never hid his feelings on any  happening in the political terrain on the state of the nation:

In 2011, while addressing an Igbo Women Development Union in Abakillki, he had this to say:

A NEW twist was added to the Boko Haram debate yesterday, with Senator Uche Chukwumerije, saying it is the result of the North’s bid for power in 2015.

In his view, President Goodluck Jonathan’s emergence is linked to the illegal activities of the Niger Delta militants. The Yoruba used the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) agitation to win the Presidency, he said.Boko Haram (Western education is a sin) has claimed responsibility for the various bombings across the North, including the August 26 suicide bombing at the United Nations House in Abuja.

Despite efforts to pacify them, members of the group have remained intransigent.

Chukwumerije, representing Abia North, is worried about what he calls the politicisation of militancy in some parts of the country aimed at achieving political objective. 

The Senator expressed his views yesterday in a paper he presented at the 2011 Igbo Day Lecture at the Women Development Centre (WDC) in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State. 

He urged the Igbo socio-political group Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to devise a means of constructive engagement with the youth, who, he said, should stop behaving like somebody stung by a bee and flees at a mere hum of a house fly.

Chukwumerije said: “The issue of militancy in the Niger Delta has yielded them (the Southsouth) the presidency. If you watch what is going on now, the politicised illegal activities of Boko Haram are a proper determination to win the second round of presidential election in 2015”. He accused other   ethnic groups of using similar organizations, such as the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), to win the presidency.

He cited the OPC, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and other youth groups in the Niger Delta as vehicles used by the Yoruba and the Niger Delta to win power.

The Abia senator urged Ndigbo to support MASSOB as a veritable youth group that will work towards achieving the cause of Igbo presidency.

Chukwumerije noted that the structure in Nigeria does not support the development of Igbo land after 40 years of Nigeria’s civil war, citing the example of failed promises of successive administrations to build the second Niger Bridge.

He said since the war ended, the Igbo have been marginalised socially and economically while they continue to cry foul without anybody listening to them.

The Senator warned that Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Igbo language will soon die, if no drastic measure is taken urgently to salvage the situation.

In 2012 during Nigeria's 52nd independence celebrations, he had this to say about Nigeria:

Still in the spirit of the nation’s 52 independence anniversary, a member of the upper chamber, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, yesterday said 52 years after being granted freedom, Nigeria seems not to be free, saying that Nigeria is a failed state.

The Senator stressed on the need for our leaders at the local, state and the federal governments to return Nigeria to the path of economic growth, and work towards the unity of the nation.

This came following different comments from the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, PDP, Akwa Ibom North-East and 108 other senators while congratulating Nigeria on her 52nd years of freedom from colonial rule.

Enang on Monday, October 1, said “Nigeria did mark her 52nd independence anniversary, having attained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960.

“Steadily and gradually, the nation is developing its domestic production capacity as an independent nation. We have become a big player in international affairs within the committee of nations.”

However, Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, PDP, Abia North, said: “It took only 21 years to transform Turkey from a feudal state to a highly modernised state today. South-East Asian countries took less than 30 years to move from ex-British colonies to what they are today; Asian Tigers, and are highly developed to the point that one of them, Malaysia, took our palm produce and turned its economy around.

“It took South Korea 18 years to move from 3rd dependent country to one of the third exporters, and it took China exactly 48 years to move from a small status, being described by the West as the begging bone of Asian, to a super power.

“With our 52 years as a country, a country who took palm produce from us some years back has grown into a prosperous country and turned that product into its main exporting product.

“How would you describe us now importing it? I can only describe Nigeria as either a failed state or on the verge of being a failed one.”

Reactions from Nigerians (Culled from the Vanguard)

Ohanaeze will miss his robust contributions – Nwaorgu

Mourning the three-time senator, Dr Joe Nwaorgu, the secretary general of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said: “It is a big loss to Ndigbo. Chukwumerije was an enormous resource person. We will miss him a lot. He was a very active member of Ohanaeze, we will miss his participation and deliberation on issues. At 75, it is not such a long life. We expected to him to live longer.’’

Senate has lost one of its brightest minds – Mark

We have lost a perfect gentleman, intellectual gem –Etiebet, MaebaSpeaking on Chukwumerije’s death, Senate President David Mark said Chukwumerije was one of the brightest and fertile minds in the Senate. “He radiated intelligence, exemplary conduct in both public and private life. He was a team player who brought meaning to hard work. He was focused and determined to make positive difference.” Senator Mark added that in the Senate, Senator Chukwumerije was a shinning light and a pathfinder. His words: “We shall miss him. No doubt he left a vacuum that would too hard to fill. He was a consummate and passionate Nigerian who believed in the sanctity of the peace and unity of the nation.”

In his reaction, former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Don Etiebet, said Nigeria has lost an intellectual gem. His words: “We never heard he was sick. Nigeria has lost an intellectual and expert at whatever he was doing. We will miss him greatly especially his contribution to education enhancement as the Senate Education Committee Chairman. I pray Almighty God to give his family the grace to bear the irreparable loss.’’

Also, Senator Lee Maeba described Chukwumerije as a perfect gentleman. “He was a perfect gentleman and I pray May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

His battles will never be in vain –Ikokwu

In like manner, Second Republic Politician, Chief Guy Ikokwu, described the late senator as a man of justice, who fought for the emancipation of the downtrodden. Ikokwu recalled the late senator’s role during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war and said: He did his best for his people and he will never be forgotten. With very little resources, he fought for the survival of his people and those things he fought for will never be forgotten.”

It is the exit of a Lion Senator — Ekweremadu

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has expressed shock and sadness over Chukwumerije’s death, describing him as a fearless politician who fought for the interest of the common man and his people. He also described him as “a patriot who gave his best towards the peace, unity and development of Nigeria”. In a statement, Ekweremadu said: “I am most saddened by the news of the passing on of distinguished Senator Chukwumerije. It is the exit of a lion Senator, brother, friend, brave comrade, seasoned journalist, credible mobiliser, social critic, pro-poor politician, and a legislator per excellence.

He said Senator Chukwumerije would be sorely missed by the Senate and the entire nation and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul and inner strength for his family and the entire nation to bear the irreparable loss.

It is a big loss –Wogu

Immediate past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu said: “It is a big loss to the country and to the Igbo nation. Chukwumerije was a reference point politically right from the civil war days and then the post civil war era. He is a voice that will be missed in the Senate and I pray that God will grant him eternal peace.”

PDP mourns

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu on behalf of the National Executive Committee and the PDP family nation wide mourned and eulogised the late politician.”We are indeed deeply saddened by the loss of this great Nigerian, a highly respected statesman who has made immense contributions to the development of our dear nation. Senator Chukuwumerije lived a patriotic Nigerian and a brilliant lawmaker who gave his all and discharged his responsibilities with unequalled forthrightness, loyalty and commitment to the service of our dear fatherland. He was a democratic icon and an outstanding party-man who remained committed to the ideology of the PDP and the visions of the founding fathers. We will greatly miss him. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his family as we pray God to give them the fortitude to bear this great loss,’’ he said.