By Chukwuemeka Chimerue
Hardcore members of the Rivers State Chapter of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, today, stormed the sleepy town of Alaoma Obuofia Awgu, in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu state to pay their last homage and tribute to the families of their deceased member who lost his precious life in a fire incident.
Biafra Writers’ Correspondent gathered that the now deceased, Mazi Matthew Nwabueze Okolie a.k.a Oyibo, aged 31, from Ogbunabari zone, died in a mysterious fire outbreak in his shop sometime August last year with slim chances of survival after he was hospitalized for months before he finally gave up the ghost.
According to the Igweocha Welfare Officer, Mazi ThankGod, who expressed shock at the demise of the member, the cause or source of the inferno is still a mystery as no one could render an account of what led to the fire outbreak which eventually terminated his life.
The formidable members who arrived Enugu yesterday from Igweocha, picked the remains of the deceased at the National Orthopedic Hospital mortuary, Enugu, before proceeding to his hometown.
While marching to the hometown of Mazi Okolie, the Awgu community was awakened with shouts of Biafra songs, enchantments and dance as they fly the bright colours of the Biafra flag in the air.
Speaking on what led to the death of Mazi Okolie, the IPOB Igweocha Deputy Coordinator, Mazi Onyebuchi Eze, stated it was as a result of the fire outbreak which took place inside his store after spending months at the hospital.
While highlighting the unalloyed support and commitment of ‘Oyibo’ to the Biafra restoration project, the Deputy Coordinator described him as a gallant soldier who expressed no feelings of fear even in the midst of his enemies.
“Matthew Nwabueze Okolie has been one of our gallant soldiers. When we went to Ubiama, he was at the forefront, at Nkpor, he was there at the forefront, same in Igweocha. In all the protests, he’ll always be at the forefront.
“He has been a good soldier, he has never failed us and whenever we went for any occasion or event, he must be there. So, he was a very active and committed member of IPOB in Igweocha and that was why we came to honour him.”
Talking about the ‘Command and Control’ framework of the IPOB in general, Mazi Onyebuchi said, “I want to tell IPOB worldwide, not only those in Biafraland, that anybody who is working with our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, must work with truth and honesty. When he gives you a command, no matter how it is, obey his last command.
“Some people may come with money to lure you but you have to resist them. If you’re doing a good work, you’ll definitely have lots of enemies but don’t bother, keep your hands clean and keep your records straight, and at the end, we shall win.”
He also commiserated with the families of the deceased, adding that death is an inevitable prize everybody has to pay when it comes while assuring them that their dead son and brother lived a life worthy of emulation and remembrance.
Also speaking, the Commander of Igweocha Warriors, Kingsley Onyedeke, extolled ‘Oyibo’ as one of the great warriors Igweocha has ever had. In his words; “what brought us here is to pay our last tribute and respect to our great and gallant hero popularly known as ’Oyibo’ in Igweocha. That name means a lot of things for us.
“He is one of the strong-hearted warriors we had, he physically confronted soldiers and was never afraid of them. He is a sponsor and a good adviser.
“So, we the Igweocha Warriors, came here to show his people what we are known for. We’re not afraid of any human being, that is the reason you saw us display ourselves right from the mortuary to this village.
“We have been here since yesterday night to make sure that this village knows that we belong to IPOB, he’s one of the heroes and a gallant soldier in IPOB.”
Brother to the deceased, Samuel Okolie who expressed disbelief and gratitude over the presence and support of IPOB in his period of mourning, thanked the leadership for commiserating with him and his family.
He narrated how he was called on the fateful day of 13 August, 2016, to rush to Igweocha to see the unfortunate incident and situation of his late brother, Mazi Nwabueze Okolie, whom he described as a struggler and a jovial person who never relent in seeing that positive changes in life are being perfected.
May His Gentle and Galant Soul Rest in peace. For your sake and that of other Heroes past, we must restore Biafra.
All hail Biafra.
