Ex-Biafran war hero and elder statesman Ogbueshi Joe “Hannibal” Achuzia is dead. He died after a brief illness.
He was 90.
Ogbueshi Achuzia, who was a major in the Biafran Army, died yesterday at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, his son, Onyeka Achuzia, said.
Onyeka said the body had been deposited at the mortuary.
Well-wishers and indigenes have visited his home at Idumu-Ojei quarters to pay their last respect.
Onyeka described his father as the best, saying he was shocked to learn of his death.
According to him, the war veteran was beaming with smiles before he passed on.
A 21-gun salute was fired to announce his death.
Onyeka said: “He died about 8 am this morning (yesterday). His death was not expected, but it has happened. He was 90 years.
“My father was the Ikemba of Asaba. A 21-gun salute has been fired in his honour and to announce to Asaba indigenes that he is no more. It is a sad incident. I am so sad; it is a sad experience.
“I can’t believe my father is dead. He was smiling yesterday, but we did not know he was going to die. He had a brief illness, but we never knew he would die.”
Until his death, Ogbueshi Achuzia was chairman, Supreme Council of Elders, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi described Achuzia’s death as the loss of one those not afraid of their own voices.
