Federal Government Raises Burial Committee for Ekwueme

The Federal Government has set up a committee saddled with the responsibility of organising a state burial for a former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme,  who died on Sunday in London.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, made the announcement at a meeting of the National Economic Council held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
The meeting was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Mustapha said he would chair the burial committee with the Anambra State Government and the Ekwueme’s family fully represented.

He however did not name other members of the committee.

Also, the government has opened a condolence register at the reception area of the Presidential Villa in honour of the late Ekwueme.

At the end of the council meeting which lasted five hours, Osinbajo led governors as well as other senior Governor officials to sign the condolence register.

During the meeting, the governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the conduct of a free and fair governorship election in the state.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, told State House Correspondents, that Obiano gave the commendation during the council’s meeting.

Meanwhile, commercial activities were on Thursday shut down in Oko community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, as  the community commenced the mourning  of Ekwueme, who hailed from the area.

The polytechnic town was a shadow of itself as shops, markets and private schools in the area were  closed down in honour of the deceased.

“This man (Ekwueme) can be described as next to our God; because he pioneered every development in this community,” one of the mourners who pleaded anonymity told one of our correspondents.

As early as 10am, elders, women and the youths of the community had converged on  the Oko Civic Centre where speeches, tributes and prayers  were offered before they moved to the Ekwueme’s house where they signed  condolence register.

Speaking, the President-General of town, Chief C.Y. Nwamuo said, “The atmosphere depicts the mood we are in, we lost our most illustrious son, our father, our mentor, what we have as a community, we lost him, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Ekwueme,  the former Vice-President of the federation, so we are in a sober mood because we are devastated.

“Today, we closed shops, every shop in this community and those in the Diaspora owned by indigenes of Oko, every son and daughter of Oko in any branch has to close shop today to mourn him. This is how we can start the burial ceremony of dearest our father and patriot.”