FG to give Zik's son befitting burial

Written by FROM ALOYSIUSATTAH, ONITSHA. 

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the burial of Owelle Chukwuma Azikiwe, first son of Nigeria's first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe, will receive the full support of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

It was gathered that President Buhari met recently in Aso Rock Villa with a delegation from the Azikiwe family who came to brief him on their preparedness for the event and he promised to do everything possible to ensure a smooth burial of the gentleman nationalist.

Those at the meeting included Nwamulunamma Onuora Azikiwe (Spiritual Head of the family), Akunne Arah Azikiwe (youngest brother of Rt. Hon Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe) Engr. Chukwuma Njaka (PA to late Owelle Chukwuma Azikiwe) and Senator Dr Chris Ngige (ex-governor of Anambra State).

The meeting followed the disturbing information that some people within the Onitsha ruling house had teamed up with some disgruntled politicians in the South-east to ensure that the deceased is buried like a fowl as a reward of his support for Buhari's candidacy during the last presidential election

This, he did, against the wish of majority of the Igbo who worked for Jonathan's victory. However, Chukwuma died shortly after Buhari's victory. Sunday Sun gathered that those aggrieved with his alleged role had concluded plans to punish him in the grave yard by denying him a befitting burial.

At present, the compound where Zik lived is in a dilapidated condition. Not only that the building is submerged due to heavy fall, its swimming pool has also been taken over by dangerous reptiles. Senator Chris Ngige had visited Ogene Onira residence of the Late Azikiwe at the instance of the Presidency to assess the real situation of things.

Thereafter, another meeting was held at Zik's House on Monday, July 6 with Senator Dr Chris Ngige, Engr Chukwuma Njaka, Mr Ifeanyi Okwudili, Rev. Obinna Akukwe, (Director General, Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC)), and Barrister Emejulu Okpalaukwu (Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Chairman Igbo-Ohanaeze Integrity Groups) in attendance.

Sources close to the family of the deceased said the aim of the meeting was to discuss the modalities for giving a befitting burial to this illustrious Igbo son in accordance with the directive of the president.

Speaking to Sunday Sun, the Chairman of Igbo-Ohanaeze Integrity Group, Emejulu Okpalaukwu said the late Chukwuma Azikiwe deserved a befitting burial for his contributions in deepening democracy in Nigeria.

He maintained that Igbo Ohanaeze Integrity group would continue to mobilize support for the Buhari administration and urged the entire people of the South-East to do the same thing.