Ojukwu’s burial shifted to March 2

Posted by admin General Politics, Top Stories Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

The burial of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has been shifted from February 3 to March 2, the national burial committee, has announced.

Briefing newsmen shortly after its meeting in Enugu on Saturday, the Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, said the burial was shifted following developments in the country which affected the programme.

He said a new programme for the burial had been rolled out to ensure that the Ikemba was given a befitting burial unprecedented in the country.

“There will be a day of reminiscences featuring tributes and lectures from February 21-24 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Lagos State,” he said.

He said this would be followed by traditional ‘Icho Mmadu’ (searching for the dead) which would be led by Igbo youths.

Chukwumerije added that on February 27, Ikemba’s body would arrive in Abuja en route Owerri while prayers would be offered in all the churches and that on February 28, the body would arrive in Enugu, adding that on March 1, there would be funeral ceremonies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

“On March 2, the body would leave Enugu for Nnewi after a brief stopover at Awka, Anambra, for interment.”

Chukwumerije stated that the burial was expected to unite Igbo at home and in the disapora.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting was attended by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Sen. Ben Obi and representatives of the 44 sub-committees for the burial.

-Punchwp_posts