‘Courageous Leader’: Tinubu Extols Ezeife As Former Anambra Governor Is Laid To Rest

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday described the former Anambra State, the late Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife as a true Nigerian who fought for peace and unity of the country during his lifetime.

Tinubu stated this at Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Government Area of the state, during the burial ceremony of the late rights activist and elder statesman.

This is coming as Governor Chukwumah Soludo of Anambra State has condemned the printing of brochures, banners and other materials used for the burial ceremony, stating that it was against the state’s burial law.

Represented at the burial ceremony by the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, President Tinubu also described Ezeife as a courageous fighter and a true son of the soil.

“Ezeife died at the time Nigeria needed his developmental ideas the more. He is a man with towering influence. A former federal permanent secretary and a man with leadership credentials.

“While we pray for the repose of his soul, we encourage his loved ones to take solace in his indelible legacies,” Tinubu said.

The burial ceremony, which was hosted by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, was attended by several dignitaries, including a former governor of the state and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi; former governor of the state and two-time Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh; President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Senator Ben Obi, and Senator Uche Ekwunife.

The late Ezeife, who was governor of Anambra State on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Nigeria’s Third Republic, from January 1992 to November 1993, died on December 14, 2023, at the age of 85.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Prof. Soludo has condemned the printing of brochures, banners and other materials used for Ezeife’s burial ceremony, stating that it was against the state’s burial laws.

The law, signed in 2019, bans the erection of any kind of billboard, banner or poster of a deceased person(s) in the state.

It only allows the mounting of directional posts, which shall be removed not later than seven days after the burial date.

Speaking on the conduct of the burial activities, Soludo said: “I must not leave without saying this: If the Okwadike (Ezeife) that I knew were to be alive, he would not have supported most of what is being done here today. When I got here and saw brochures printed, I said ‘this is wrong,’ because it is against the Anambra State Burial Law.

“Some people sent me texts, requesting to print some materials for the burial but I told them they don’t have waivers to do such because it is against the burial law in Anambra State. Printing of any materials for burial in Anambra is meant to be for just one day. That is the law.

“We won’t enforce the law when a poor man dies and then overlook it when a rich man dies.

“I did not pass the law; the law was passed two years before I became governor of Anambra State.”

Earlier in his remarks, Soludo praised the late Ezeife, stressing that he lived the kind of lifestyle he was known to preach.

He noted that ‘Okwadike’ as he was fondly called during his lifetime, was a man of integrity and credibility.

“Ezeife lived the life he preached. He did not just preach it; he lived it. Ezeife believed in the law, and that was why he held Nigeria responsible for the law,” Soludo explained.

David-Chyddy Eleke

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