The corpse of former President Alex Ekwueme arrived at Akanu Ibiam International Airport on Monday with the reception of five governors of the South East state.
The body is flown from Abuja to Enugu preparing for the final funeral that begins on January 30.
The body that was flown to a Nigerian Air Force flight NAF918 was received by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi; Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Gov. Wille Obiano of Anambra and Governor Rochas Okorocha of You.
A brief prayer was offered to the deceased family of the Archbishop, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Honorable Emmanuel Chukwuma.
The corpse was taken to the morgue after a short stop at his Independence Layout residence and a procession of Nigerian Police officers, Enugu State Command.
The corpse was covered with the Nigerian flag while the governors switched to pay their last solemn reverence.
There will be commendation for the late icon at the Cathedral Church of Good Shepherd, Independence Layout on January 30 and an interdenominational service on Okpara Square on January 31.
The body will leave for Awka, Anambra State immediately after the Enugu service.
Former President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday received the body and praised the senior statement focused on Nigeria's unity throughout his life.
The praise of Osinbajo was made in an Honor for Ekwueme parade mounted at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday as part of the Federal Constitution's last respects for him.
He expressed the hope that the death of Ekwueme would not only encourage Nigerians, but cement the relationship among all of the peoples and nationalities.
“I would want to see Nigeria to be a nation, not just a country,’’ Osinbajo quoted Ekwueme’s response to a question about his vision for Nigeria.
“Those words tell us how committed he was to the unity of this country.
‘’And I pray that in death and as we remember him, this would not only encourage us but also cement the relationship between all of the peoples and nationalities of this country so that we could become and remain one.
“We are reminded of his commitment to timeless ideals of integrity, of loyalty and of kindness to all. We thank the almighty God for giving us 85 years life of Dr Ekwueme.
“We thank the almighty God for his family and all us who he has left behind and we pray that his great wishes for this nation and all that he sacrificed for will not be in vein,’’ he said.
Osinbajo later handed over the remains of the late former vice-president to the family, represented by his son, Mr Goodheart Ekwueme, at 12:40 p.m.
The body departed for Enugu in an Air Force plane in company of his family members at 1:30 p.m.
Dr Emma Okeke, the Deputy Governor of Anambra who was at the airport, urged current political leaders in Nigeria to learn from the steadfastness and outstanding qualities of Ekwueme.
In an interview, he described Ekwueme as a man who always stood by what he believed in.
He said that the state government would think of immortalising the late Ekwueme after his burial, adding that the governor would decide that at the appropriate moment.
“Talking about immortalising, that is what the governor would decide when the time is ripe because you can only talk of immortalising after he is being buried.’’
Born in October 1932, late Ekwueme served as Nigeria’s Vice President from 1979 to 1983
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He expressed the hope that the death of Ekwueme would not only encourage Nigerians, but cement the relationship among all of the peoples and nationalities.
“I would want to see Nigeria to be a nation, not just a country,’’ Osinbajo quoted Ekwueme’s response to a question about his vision for Nigeria.
“Those words tell us how committed he was to the unity of this country.
‘’And I pray that in death and as we remember him, this would not only encourage us but also cement the relationship between all of the peoples and nationalities of this country so that we could become and remain one.
“We are reminded of his commitment to timeless ideals of integrity, of loyalty and of kindness to all. We thank the almighty God for giving us 85 years life of Dr Ekwueme.
“We thank the almighty God for his family and all us who he has left behind and we pray that his great wishes for this nation and all that he sacrificed for will not be in vein,’’ he said.
Osinbajo later handed over the remains of the late former vice-president to the family, represented by his son, Mr Goodheart Ekwueme, at 12:40 p.m.
The body departed for Enugu in an Air Force plane in company of his family members at 1:30 p.m.
Dr Emma Okeke, the Deputy Governor of Anambra who was at the airport, urged current political leaders in Nigeria to learn from the steadfastness and outstanding qualities of Ekwueme.
In an interview, he described Ekwueme as a man who always stood by what he believed in.
He said that the state government would think of immortalising the late Ekwueme after his burial, adding that the governor would decide that at the appropriate moment.
“Talking about immortalising, that is what the governor would decide when the time is ripe because you can only talk of immortalising after he is being buried.’’
Born in October 1932, late Ekwueme served as Nigeria’s Vice President from 1979 to 1983
Räägi sõbrale... #AFRICA ... spill TEA ABOUT THE TOPIC ABOVE.... Easy on Shade #jaiyeorie
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