A former Enugu State Governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo, has been appointed to head the national burial committee of ex-Anambra State Governor, Chukwuemeka Ezeife.
Ezeife died at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja on December 14, 2023, at the age of 86.
Performing the formal inauguration of the committee, in Abuja on Thursday night, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu charged the Nwodo-led committee to give its best to ensure a befitting farewell for the late Ezeife, adding that members of the National Assembly would also support the committee.
He said, “You have sons in the National Assembly, and we ,the members of the National Assembly, have said that when you make your budget, give us our share for contribution.
“We are going to solidly stand behind this committee. So give it your best. Whenever you need us, we are available. We will not abandon you.
“Ezeife was a great man who sacrificed for the Igbo tribe. He believed in a South East of peace and unity. He did not stand for the killing and destruction some people are carrying out in the region now. He also believed in dialogue and the spirit of oneness. So, we will use his burial to tell Nigerians that Igbo people are united.”
Also speaking at the event, the Head of Secretariat of the National Burial Committee, Ifedi Okwenna, disclosed that the committee consists of former governors, legislators, captains of industries, and elder statesmen of various social-cultural groups, faith-based organisations, political parties, and civil society groups across the country.
“As you can see, the life he lived is reflected in the calibre of people on the committee. We have people from different parties and so many friends and family because he was a man given to brotherhood and love,” he said.
In his response, Nwodo stated, “We are determined, we have the vision and we know that the statement we want to make will be achieved and you will all be proud to be Igbo people.”
