Achebe’s body arrives Abuja today

The remains of celebrated writer, Chinua Achebe is expected to be flown into the country, today to kick-start a week-long burial rites. Achebe died on March 21, 2013 at 82.

Meanwhile, the people of Ogidi, hometown of the literary icon, weekend said they were prepared to work with other committees set up for a befiting buril of their illustrous son.

Achebe, a former president general of Ogido Town Union, belonged to the highest titled group in Ogidi known as Ndichie Une.

Chairman of media and publicity sub-committee of the committee set up by Ogidi for burial as well as a member of a similar committee set up by the Anambra State government, Chief Bob Manuel Udokwu, who briefed news men in Awka, said that what matters to Ogidi people is that their son was accorded a befitting burial.

According to details of the burial activities released by Udokwu, Achebe’s body would arrive Nigeria on May 19. There would be prayers at the Ecumenicasl Center, Abuja same day, while cultural events and reading of Achebe’s books would take place the following day. There would also be an Airport reception for him by members of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA,and Ogidi people at the Abuja Airport before the body departs for Enugu Airport where the body would be received by South East governors to be led by their chairman, Mr. Peter Obi.

He said that though the body would not be taken to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, there would be a procession for him and other ceremonies in that institution, while the body would arrive Awka on the 22nd to be received at the Amansea border by a cross section of Anambra people.

Thereafter, there would be a brief church service for him at the Alex Ekwueme square in Awka to be led by the Anglican Bishop of Awka. The body would arrive Ogidi on 23rd for a funeral service at St Phillip’s Anglican Church, Akpakaogwe,Ogidi where the primary school attended by Achebe