The Federal Government has postponed the burial of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, until after
Team Nigeria’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games participation.
The FG disclosed that it will play its own part for the late soccer icon after the Games because of a combination of factors. “We don’t want a haphazard burial for such a great patriot. That is why the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has said that government will play its own part after the Olympics,” a top Sports Ministry source told The Point.
However, the final burial rites for the late Nigerian Captain and Coach will start in Benin
City, Edo State on Thursday notwithstanding the fact that funds has hampered plans to give him a heroic burial.
The Keshi family is, however, going ahead with the burial plans beginning with a Church Service on
Thursday, July 28 at St’ Paul Catholic Church, Benin City by 9am.
Afterwards, Keshi’s body would be moved to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where a novelty match will be held in his honour, followed by his body lying-in-state for his numerous admirers to pay their last respect.
The match is being organised by his former teammates, led by Austin Eguavoen, who had also captained and coached the national team.
After that, the body moves to Asaba, the Delta State capital, where his body will again lie in state at the Stadium named after him by former Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Nnebisi Road.
From Asaba, the body will leave for Illah, his homestead. On entering Illah, the body will be received
by the Obi of Illah, HRH Obi Gbemudu along with his high chiefs. Keshi himself was a high chief of the
Illah kingdom.
From there, the body moves to St’ John, the Evangelist Catholic Church, for a requiem mass on Friday.
The next port of call will be his home in Illah, where the body will again lie in state for an hour
before interment at the same venue.
It is expected that there will be a heavy presence of officials of the Edo and Delta State governments
at the events heralding the glorious exit of a man who brought glory, not only to the two states but
the entire Nigerian nation and indeed Africa.
