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Ikemba Nnewi: Fashola Pledges Full Cooperation With National Funeral Committee
• The late Ikemba was as much a Lagosian as he was a Nigerian", he says

Jan 27, 2012 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Friday hosted the National Funeral Committee of the Late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, pledging the support of the State Government to the Committee to ensure a befitting burial for the former Military Governor of the defunct Eastern Region.

Late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, who died in a London hospital in the early hours of Saturday, November 26, 2011, will be buried on February 30 after a 40 day funeral ceremony which will be held variously in parts of the country including Lagos, Kano and Enugu between February 14 and 29, 2012.

Addressing members of the Committee led by its Deputy Chairman, Senator Uche Chukwumeruje, Governor Fashola said his administration would be more than glad to do all that would guarantee a befitting burial for the late Ojukwu including providing venue and adequate security for the Ikemba Day scheduled to take place in Lagos on February 24, 2012.

The Governor who said the Late Ikemba Nnewi was as much a Lagosian as he was a Nigeria, also pledged to handle directly from his office the logistic challenges that would be posed by transfer flights from Lagos to Enugu for foreign dignitaries transiting to Enugu for the final funeral event of the deceased on February 29, 2012.

Noting that he had earlier received official communication from the committee requesting him to send in a tribute, Governor Fashola promised that the activity would be coordinated directly from his office for adequate and effective execution, assuring that his team would be able to cope as long as it gets"reasonably sufficient notice on the arrival and departure times as well as names of guests".

Governor Fashola also promised to facilitate the prayers for the repose of the soul of Ikemba Nnewi in mosques and churches in the State on Friday and Sunday preceding the final burial of the deceased.

Pointing out that he got to know that the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu was a close friend of his Uncle and was visiting the family home in Isale Eko in those days, Governor Fashola disclosed, "We are already meeting at that level too within our family to see what we could do".

Expressing the "deep sympathy of the Government and people of Lagos to the entire Ndigbo for the transition of this Great Nigerian, a true son of Nigeria about whom I am certain the ink would not dry for a long time to come", Governor Fashola prayed for the repose of the soul of Ikemba and divine support and encouragement to his family, especially his wife and children.

He told the Committee members which included Senator Ben Obi who is the Chairman Contacts Sub-Committee of the Funeral Committee, and Professor A.B.C. Nwosu, Secretary of the Committee, "You do have an enormous task ahead of you but with the quality of men in your delegation, it will be more successful than probably can be imagined".

Earlier, in his remarks, Senator Chukwumerije said the mission of the Committee to the State House was to inform the Governor of and seek his support for the activities lined up for the funeral of the Ikemba Nnewi especially the Ikemba Day scheduled to take place in Lagos on February 24, 2012

Senator Chukwumerije who congratulated Governor Fashola on his "track record as one of the most proactive and diligent modernizers we have among the governors",prayed that God would continue to grant him the strength to sustain the pace of development he has started in Lagos State.

He said the events leading to the final burial of Ikemba Nnewi would commence on February 14, 2012 adding that the event would include delivering of speeches and also traditional dances to take place at different dates in different parts of the country including Lagos, Kano, Minna, Abuja and Enugu.

Giving more details of the events, Senator Ben Obi said highlights of the Lagos event would include reminiscences aimed at recapturing the Nigeria of the adolescent and post adolescent days of the late Ikemba which he spent in Lagos and during which all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe and tongue, saw themselves as Nigerians adding that Governor Fashola would be the Guest of Honour at the event.

Senator Obi commended Governor Fashola for "doing extremely well to the pride of all Nigerians".

Also present at the occasion were the Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Disun Holloway, his Transport counterpart, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba among other members of the State Executive Council on the Government side as well as Professor George Obiozor and Dr. Kelechi Ikechukwu among members of the Funeral Committee.