Governors of the South-east zone and the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, on Monday received the body of the late Second Republic Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
This came as the vocal Archbishop of Anglican Church, Enugu Province, His Grace, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, faulted the federal government over its claims that it has spent N1 billion for the burial of the late elder statesman.
The body of the late former vice president was flown from Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, in Nigeria Air Force plane marked NAF 918. The plane landed at the Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu, at exactly 2:08 p.m.
The body was received by the South-east governor led by their Chairman and governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, accompanied with governors of Anambra State, Dr. Willie Obiano; Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Other dignitaries at the airport to receive the late Vice President were Nwodo, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma; National Chairman of United Progressive Party, Chief Chikwas Okorie; Speaker Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Ogbonnia Nwaifuru led all the members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly. As well as Secretary to the State Government of Ebonyi State, Prof. Bernard Odeh led Ebonyi State Cabinet.
In a brief ceremony, the Southeast governors one after the other paid their last respects to the Igbo Icon.
The Enugu Chamber Choir led by Nonso Offiah and African Vocals led by Hyacinth Ogbu sang during the welcome ceremony.
Bishop Chukwu who prayed for the successful burial of the late Dr. Ekwueme described the publication credited to the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, that federal government had spent N1 billion for the burial as unacceptable.
He said the federal government should explain what, where and how the N1 billion it claimed to have spent on the burial of late Ekwueme, stressing that late Ekwueme remained a man of great integrity whose death and burial should not be politicised.
Chukwuma described Ekwueme as a great politician in Nigeria that will never be forgotten as far as politics is concerned in this country. “We are happy that the government is giving him a befitting burial, but one thing is that people should emulate the legacies he left behind.
“It is not good to say all sorts of things without emulating what he left behind,” Chukwuma said.
A Interdenominational church service will be held in his honour on Tuesday at the Good Shepherd Anglican Church, while a commendation service will be organised again on Wednesday at the Michael Okpara Square.
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