Achebe for burial in May

Posted by admin Headlines Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

Preparations have begun for the burial of the late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe who died in the United States in the early hours of last Friday, even as the family has opened a condolence register at their family home in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Speaking to Daily Sun at the Achebe family House, Ogidi, a niece to the departed literary giant, Dame Ngozi Ezedume Achebe, said the family decided to close the gate of the compound for security reasons, adding that the burial of the literary icon would be in May. Dame Ezedume Achebe, who is the daughter of the late Prof. Achebe’s elder brother, Francis Achebe, said the family at home had been in touch with Prof. Achebe’s children in the United States concerning the burial of their father.

“Yes, I spoke with my cousin, Dr. Ike Achebe yesterday. He told me that the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi just visited them. He said the family would commence funeral rites for my uncle because that was one of his numerous wishes while he was alive. We are planning to put the burial in May.” She further disclosed that while alive, the late literary icon had a regret, which he said was the systematic marginalization of Ndigbo as well as his inability to visit home often.

“He was down to earth while at the University of Ibadan where he got admission to read medicine and surgery. He was humble and very quiet but had always lamented about the marginalization of Ndigbo and South-East zone in Nigeria. He also complained about his inability to visit home regularly,” she said.

According to her, the condolence register was opened because of the people across the world, which had been trooping into their compound to commiserate with the family over the death of their father. She thanked the world for the respect given to her uncle while alive, adding that God was merciful to have kept him for 23 years after the motor accident that confided him to the wheelchair.

“What else could we ask for again, God kept him for the world, he could have died when he had that accident but God gave him extra 23 years to live to serve the world! He was a special gift from the family of Achebe to the entire world and we are proud to have him as our son and father,” she said.

However, the leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ebonyi State, Senator Julius Ucha in his condolence message to the family tasked the Federal Government to scale up fight against corruption and maladministration as a way of immortalizing Achebe and what he lived and died for.

Ucha said: “Achebe was a literary giant, a humble icon and a legend, who worshiped and honoured truth in reality. He was a good steward of his talent and a first class world genius. I hope and pray that Nigeria and the world will immortalize him for his frankness, foresightedness and for his zero tolerance for corruption.”

Also, the immediate past chairman of Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) for Anambra/Enugu/Ebonyi chapter, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, said: “The death of Achebe has dimmed the light of our Igbonness,” pointing out that “Achebe was the only one who held aloft the torch of our real Igbonness; his exit marks the dimming of our Igboness.

We, in Anambra and in fact Nigeria, should strive to re-evaluate our value system towards moral rebirth. Nothing short of this could eulogize the memory of this great son of Igboland and Nigeria.”wp_posts