•Anambra declares public holiday for burial
Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja and Geoffrey Anayanwu, Awka
It was a gathering of who-is-who at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, yesterday, when dignitaries across politics, religion, ethnicity and race paid glowing tributes to late Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
Among those in attendance were Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nnia Nwodo, former governors, ministers, political associates, friends, political associates among others.
The event was put together by the National Burial Committee in charge of Ekwueme’s burial. He died on November 19, 2017, in a London hospital.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha who chairs the committee, said the government will foot the entire bill for the burial which includes transporting the corpse from London to Nigeria.
Osinbajo who came straight from Davos, Switzerland, where he represented Nigeria at the World Economic Forum, in his remarks said, Ekwueme set an excellent example of loyalty, integrity and commitment.
According to him, the late Vice President had only one vision, that Nigeria becomes a nation and not a country.
Ekwueme’s boss, former President Shehu Shagari, said he never knew Ekwueme’s 2017 birthday will be his last as he was younger than him.
Represented by his son, Aminu, the former president said: “I’m not here to give undeserved praises on Ekwueme; whatever I say here, I have told him so in his life…I choose him because he came across as a man of impeccable integrity and character. We worked harmoniously because we had the same vision. He was a deputy I trusted and mischief makers could not drive a wedge between us. His character remain impeccable. Even in death his achievements cannot be diminished.”
Back home, Anambra State Government has announced a public holiday for the burial of Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, announced this, yesterday and added that all markets and businesses would be closed in Ekwueme’s honour. “Please note that Thursday, February 1, is work-free-day in Anambra state. All markets and businesses will be closed on that day to enable Ndi Anambra, friends, associates and well wishers to pay our last respects to the late vice president.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, expressed the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to giving Ekwueme a befitting burial.