The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Burial

  • 12 Nimbo community herdsmen victims for burial

    12 Nimbo community herdsmen victims for burial

    All is set for the burial this weekend for 12 of those killed by herdsmen in Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Council of Enugu State last April 25.

    Parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nimbo Rev. Fr. Joseph Obetta Okeke made this known to visiting coalition of non-governmental organisa-tions (NGOs) from Enugu led by Fr. Ambrose Ekereku of the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO).

    Although, he was not sure of the number, he said at least 12 bodies are awaiting burial. Others which were badly mutilated had already been buried.

    The cleric, who suffered mild stroke following the herdsmen attack, recounted how he smashed his car while rushing himself to hospital.

    “My blood pressure was so high that I did not know when I hit a tree on my way to the hospital,” he said.

    In the coalition were Women Aid Collective (WACOL), Juliet Ibekaku Hope Project, Women in Peace Network (WIPNET), National Council of Women Society (NCWS), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).

    The visiting NGOs donated various foodstuffs and one million naira to the devastated people of Nimbo.

    The leader of the team, Ekereku called on the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to urgently rebuild Nimbo community. Ekereku also urged government to pay more attention to the development of rural areas.

    He said: “It is evident that life in rural areas has remained rustic where the inhabitants lack even the most basic of amenities while those in the metropolis have a surfeit of such amenities. That situation has become untenable considering the environmental risks the inhabitants of the rural areas are exposed to.

    “The government should embark on extensive agricultural activities in Nimbo which is an agrarian community rather than abandoning the people to an agrarian subsistence existence.

    “Government’s failure to exploit the agricultural potentials of the community is akin to abandoning the people to the devilish whims of the herdsmen who are attracted to the lush grass in the area.

    “A stronger government presence in Nimbo and other communities in the council will attract investors in the agriculture sector.”

    According to Ekereku, such presence would definitely keep the herdsmen away.

    And at the palace of the traditional ruler of Nimbo, Igwe John Akor, the NGOs condoled with the community over the loss of lives and property during the mayhem.

    The traditional ruler thanked the group for the visit and donations, saying government and other organisations were doing their best to rehabilitate the people. He equally urged the government to come and make use of the large expanse of land the community is endowed with.

    “If government could heed to this advise by building institutions like Agricultural institutions in these lands, the Fulani will not have access to roam their cows anyhow”, he said.

     

  • Elder Adejuwon’s final burial holds today

    The final burial of Elder Francis Ayoola Adejuwon will take place today at Ile –Ife, Osun State. He was 78.

    Thanksgiving and memorial service will hold at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Ibukun, Olorunsogo, Off Road 7, Ile-Ife, at 10.00am and a reception follows immediately at Enuwa Square, Ile- Ife, Osun State.

    Adejuwon, a businessman and community leader, is survived by wives, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

  • Ooni gives grandmum befitting burial

    Ooni gives grandmum befitting burial

    Dignitaries at the weekend joined the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to give his paternal grandmother, Mama Marian Ayeyemi, a befitting burial.

    As early as 9am, guests started arriving St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ayegbaju, Ile-Ife.

    At the service were the Asiwaju of Ife, Chief Alex Duduyemi, representatives of the Olubadan of Ibadaland led by former Oyo State Governor Rasheed Ladoja, the monarch’s in-law, Dr. Williams Obanor, Chief Amidu Ajibade, the mother of Ekiti State governor, Mrs. Olufunke Oluwayose, the Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Bamitale Omole, OAU Registrar Dotun Awoyemi, among others.

    In his sermon, the Lord Bishop of Diocese of Ife Anglican Communion, Rev Olubunmi Akinlade, described the deceased as a role model worthy of emulation.

    Quoting Job 19: 25-27, the cleric charged Nigerians to strive and live an exemplary life, irrespective of their religious creeds, ethnicities and political inclinations.

  • A befitting burial without state cash

    A befitting burial without state cash

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi’s mother is given a suitable internment but not at the expense of taxpayers. OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE reports

    When he broke the news of his mother’s death late last year to Ebonyi State residents, Governor David Umahi also said she would be given a befitting burial but not with the state money. The Umahis have interred their matriarch Deaconess Margaret Umahi, and in grand style too, but, as the state chief executive pledged, it was all at the expense of the family.

    “I have told Ebonyi people that the state government’s one naira will not be used in my mother’s burial but Mama will be given a well-deserved and befitting burial, the governor told members of the Correspondents’ Chapel members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) who paid him a condolence visit at his Uburu hometown in Ohoazara Local Government Area of the state.

    The burial featured the crème de la crème of the society. The week-long ceremony started with a service of songs in Abakaliki, the state capital, which had in attendance the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and PDP Southeast Vice Chairman, Col Austine Akobundu (Rtd), among other top dignitaries.

    Governor Umahi described his late mother as a mediator between their family and God, adding that she died a fulfilled woman.

    Senator Ekweremadu described the late deaconess as a disciplinarian and hard worker.

    He lauded the developmental efforts of Governor Umahi and urged him to sustain the tempo in memory of his mother.

    At the wake-keep, Rivers State Governor Nyemsom Wike led a host of governors to pay tribute to the late matriarch of the Umahi family. Others in attendance included Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, among others.

    The burial ceremony had 18 APC and 11 PDP governors in attendance. Numerous ex governors also attended. Other prominent men like Chief Arthur Eze, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, wife of former President, Mrs Patience Jonathan, Chief Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, of Masters Energy, Science and Technology Minister, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, and many more.

    Chairman, Governors Forum, Governor Yari of Zamfara State and the Chairman, PDP Governors Forum, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, some ministers and the clergy, among others equally made it to Ebonyi for the burial.

    Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North) and Sen Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central) led other National Assembly members to the event.

    The burial served as a sort of unifying platform for many who turned up.

    Dame Patience Jonathan was seen embracing Chief Obasanjo warmly and the two cracking jokes to the applause and admiration of other dignitaries.

    Honourable Maria Ude Nwachi representing Afikpo Northeast in the state Assembly aptly described the event thus: “Governor Dave Umahi is a unifier! He managed to bring together political bigwigs from every side of the divide. They sat in the same room, talked to each, laughed with each other, ate and drank with each other. I am certain many foes became friends”.

    President Muhammadu Buhari in his address said the Federal Government has a lot to learn from the life of hard work lived by Deaconess Margaret Umahi to be able to tackle the current economic and security challenges facing the nation.

    The President who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation  Babachir Lawal said the late Deaconess Umahi as a peasant farmer tackled and conquered the menace of poverty in her family through hard work and perseverance.

    He added that the late Deaconess Umahi through hard work trained her children and was able to produce personalities such as a state governor, a Major General, a traditional ruler, an accountant, lawyer and many others.

    He said, “We were witnesses to these feats achieved by the late Deaconess at a time when the country is faced with economic and security challenges.”

    Buhari noted that with hard work and perseverance like the late Deaconess Umahi, Nigeria can tackle its economic and security challenges.

    He said Governor Umahi’s late mother bequeathed a good legacy  before her departure.

    Chief Obasanjo in his remarks described late Deaconess Umahi as a great uniter of the family, the people, community and indeed the entire state.

    He congratulated the children for the legacy she passed on to them before she died.

    The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari represented by the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Gimbia Dogara who thanked the people of Ebonyi State for being behind their governor, noted that the governor’s mother left a legacy that would make her remain fresh in the minds of the people.

    Governor Umahi who chronicled what his mother represented in their entire family, said she meant so much to him that he would want her to be his mother in the next world assuming such exist.

    Also, the thanksgiving service had in attendance Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo who  urged Governor Umahi’s family to build on the legacy left by their late matriarch.

    Osbanjo who described the late  Deaconess Margaret Umahi as a great woman of Christ, said since she encountered Christ in 1971, she remained very close to God till her death.

    He said having served God and impacted positively on humanity, the late Deaconess Umahi’s soul was already resting in the bosom of the Lord.

    He called on Christians to strive at all times to live a life worthy of emulation and also  pray that their soul will rest in peace when they die.

    The Vice President who lauded Governor Umahi’s performance, prayed God to bless the state.

    In his remarks, Governor Umahi described President Muhammadu Buhari and the vice, Prof Osinbajo as detribalised Nigerians who do not discriminate.

    He said the two eminent leaders posses characters similar to those his late mother who related with all manner of persons that came her way.

    Any wonder people from all walks of life and various tribes  turned up at her burial?

     

  • Bayelsa standstill as Alamieyeseigha begins final journey

    Bayelsa standstill as Alamieyeseigha begins final journey

    Shops, social activities and all forms of businesses were, Friday, shut down in different parts of Bayelsa State as the heroic state burial for the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, entered day two.

    Commercial institutions, government agencies and parastatals were shut especially   in Yenagoa, as the state stood still in honour of the Ijaw hero, who was referred to as the Governor-General of the Niger Delta.

    At about 12noon, an ambulance carrying a shiny white casket bearing the remains of the late Ijaw icon touched the soil of Bayelsa.

    The ambulance was accompanied by convoy of vehicles of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, led by its President, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, who added colour to the solemn ceremony.

    The youths led by Eradiri followed the ambulance from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Rivers State, to Yenagoa.

    The youths who bore banners and emblems of Ijaw struggle sang and danced as the white casket draped in Ijaw flag and decorated with bouquets of flowers arrived the Executive Chambers of the Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.

    It was taken to a podium at the center of the hall where Governor Seriake Dickson held a valedictory session in the honour of the late Ijaw icon.

    Though there was no lying in state for the late hero, his remains were expected to be taken to his expansive compound in his community in Amassoma where a wake had been arranged before his final burial on Saturday.

    In Amasoma, business and commercial activities were also completely shut down. Even commercial motorcyclists and buses have been out of the road since Thursday.

    The town was agog as residents and students of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Alamieyeseigha’s major achievements prepared to receive the remains of their hero.

    The quiet town became boisterous with gridlock of vehicles in some roads in the community.

    On Thursday night avalanche of tributes was poured on late Ijaw leader by other Ijaw living heroes including former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Jonathan, who narrated how the late Alamieyeseigha brought him to political limelight, said the late hero believed in the oneness of the Ijaw nation.

    Referring to him as his boss, Jonathan said the man famously called Alamco left the stage when the ovation was the loudest.

    The president said the late former governor would be missed by not only the Ijaw nation but the entire Niger Delta.

    Also the leaders of various levels of IYC led by Eradiri gathered at Ijaw House to reflect on the ideals and virtues of the late Ijaw hero and seized the opportunity to take a collective position on national issues affecting the Ijaw nation.

    Eradiri said that the council would henceforth organise public lecture every year to immortalise Alamieyeseigha.

    He said the public lecture would centre on true federalism and resource control which were some of the ideologies Alamieyeseigha promoted.

    Eradiri said: “We will be holding annual public lecture on true federalism and fiscal federal as a mark of honour to immortalising Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

    “Every year, on the date he died, we will organise annual public lecture to look at issues concerning resource control and true federalism.”

    Eradiri who was flanked by the IYC, Spokesman, Eric Omare, and other executive members of the council noted that the late governor-general was a victim of political prosecution and victimisation.

  • Braithwaite for burial April 28

    Braithwaite for burial April 28

    Renowned activist lawyer Dr. Tunji Braithwaite who passed on Tuesday will be buried March 28.
    The burial date was contained in a funeral programme issued by the family on Friday evening.
    According to the programme, the foremost lawyer will be interred at the Reverend Braithwaite Memorial Church, Papa Epe, Lagos.
    The three-day burial arrangement will  commence with a service of songs at Yard 158, Oregun street, Ikeja on April 26, while the Christian wake keep will take place at his Victoria Island residence on April 27.

  • Ibadan murder victim for burial

    The remains of the late Adebayo Oyelowo Oyediran will be buried on Friday in his home town, Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State.

    Oyediran was allegedly murdered by his wife, Yewande (nee Fatoki), on February 2.

    In a statement by his brother and the presiding Pastor / General Overseer of the Pentecostal Fellowship Assembly (PFA), Julius Olaolu Orowumi, there will be a service of songs tomorrow at PFA, 103, Iju Road, Ajilete Bus Stop, Ifako-Agege, Lagos by 5pm.

    He said the family took the decision since the police had concluded their investigation and a post mortem done.

    The funeral service will hold at St Paul’s Cathedral Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oke Osun Diocese, Gbongan, Osun State.

    His body will be interred at the Church Cemetery, Oke-Elu, Gbongan, Osun State.

  • Ex-IG Adewusi for burial April 8

    Ex-IG Adewusi for burial April 8

    A statement by former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala said the funeral programme begins on April 5 with a day of tribute and cultural display at MKO Abiola Hall, Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

    The body will leave Bowen Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso on April 6 at noon to his residence at 40/42, Amilegbe Street, Ilorin, Kwara State for a night of tributes and service of songs.

    A commendation service will hold on April 7 at Immanuel Baptist Church, Sabo- Oke, Ilorin. Thereafter, the body will leave Ilorin for his Ogbomoso house, where a wake will hold by 4pm.

    On April 8, there will be a lying in state at the same venue between 8-9am; the final service holds by 10am at Beulah Baptist Conference Ground, Ogbomoso.

     

  • Arinola Adeniyi gives late father befitting burial

    Arinola Adeniyi gives late father befitting burial

    Not a few people became curious when the usually serene city of Ibadan suddenly bloomed into double dose of excitement penultimate Friday. The ancient city was agog with celebration as Arinola Adeniyi, one of the leading lights in spa and wellness business in the country, gave his late father, pa Ebenezer Ekundayo Adeniyi, who died recently at the age of 90, a befitting burial.

    It was not a sad or gloomy affair. Rather, it was the celebration of a life well lived. The event was well attended by the movers and shakers of the Lagos and Ibadan social space.

    The funeral service was held at All Saints Church, Jericho, Ibadan, where friends and family members got the opportunity to pay their last respects to the deceased. The VENI VICI Spa boss and her siblings gave their late father nothing short of a befitting burial.

  • Governors, senators storm Abia for Gov Ikpeazu’s mother’s burial

    Governors, senators and other top dignitaries, yesterday witnessed the internment of the remains of the mother of the governor of Abia State, Deaconess Bessie Ikpeazu, in Umuobiakwa community, Obingwa council area of Abia State.

    Leading the dignitaries were Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari; Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose; Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Udom Emmanuel; Ebonyi State governor, Chief Dave Umahi and the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu.

    Other dignitaries who graced the event include Anambra State deputy governor, Chief Nkem Okeke, Senator Theodore Orji, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Theresa Uzokwevernor of Anambra State, Dr. Peter Obi among others.

    Speaking at the occasion, Ekweremadu described death as a fulfillment of God’s design for man on earth, which was inevitable and beyond human remedy.

    He noted that the deceased lived a fulfilled life on earth and has gone back to her creator, and urged Governor Ikpeazu to strive to deliver more democracy dividends to the people of the state.

    In his homily at the funeral service, President of the Eastern Nigeria Union Mission of the Seventh Day Adventist, SDA, Church, Pastor Bassey Udoh, said the late Deaconess Bessie lived for the less-privileged and touched many lives.

    Udoh, who admonished the people to live worthy lives in order to be remembered for their good works when they die, commended Ikpeazu for the democracy dividends he had delivered in the state since he assumed office, and charged him not to relent.

    According to the cleric, “Mama Bessie Ikpeazu has done her part. She touched many lives; people should strive to do good and make a difference wherever they find themselves. Life is not about what you acquire. It is not about position.”

    He urged the bereaved family not to mourn like people without hope, and advised them to take solace in the fact that Mama Bessie lived an exemplary life while on earth.