The first son of the Biafran war lord late Chief Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu in the person of Mr. Debe Sylvester Ojukwu has abruptly passed on in his Lagos residence at the age of 60.
The President-General of Nnewi Town Union (Nzuko Ora Nnewi), Sir Ugochukwu Udemezue said the death of Debe Ojukwu was a big loss to the community.
He confirmed the death of Debe, the 60 year old first son of the late Ikemba Nnewi, from Umudim.
On her part, the step-mother of the deceased, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu when contacted to confirm the eternal exit of her step-son, said it was not her duty to make announcements on behalf of the Ojukwu family. The former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain was contacted on the phone to confirm the reported death of her late husband’s first son, Debe Ojukwu but she declined.
Reminded that as a step mother of Debe, she probably must be one of the first persons to know about such things, she said Nnewi people have their customs and traditions. “According to our tradition, it is not my role to make such announcements. We have elders in the family who have such duties and functions,” she maintained.
The rumoured death of the lawyer son of the Biafran leader, had come to many as a shock, as he was said that he did not complain of any serious sickness before now.
But confirming the news on Saturday, 3rd November 2018, Sir Ugochukwu disclosed the deceased spoke with some of his town’s men on Monday and Tuesday, respectively where he complained of having ‘high sugar’ in his system.
He said the community had been thrown into mourning since the news broke out about his death, while confirming he died on the night of Friday, 2nd November 2018.
The President-General said the Improvement Union, Anaedo, Umudim, and indeed the entire Nnewi would miss him and would all be involved during his burial.
According to him, “my heart is broken and the people of Nnewi too. Yes, he is dead, he died on Friday,” he said.
“He spoke with some people on Monday and Tuesday where he complained of high sugar. When the time comes for his burial, everybody will be fully involved because he is our son,” he added.
It would be recalled that when late Ikemba Nnewi died some years ago,
some family members wanted to stop Debe from participating in the
burial.
As a result, he relocated to a nearby space from the family house to host his visitors, but the people of Nnewi, including the chiefs, were in his support.
One of the High Chiefs in Nnewi, who pleaded anonymity yesterday, told newsmen that it was time for the Ojukwu family to put quarrels aside and come together to give their illustrious son a befitting burial when the time comes.
Another family member of the Ojukwus’ who did not want her name mentioned, confirmed the death of Mr. Debe Ojukwu, but said it was the duty of the elders in Nnewi and family to talk on it.
Rostrum gathered that a condolence book had already been made available in honour of the deceased.
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