Chinua Achebe may be buried next month

Prof. Chinua Achebe
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Iconic author, Prof. Chinua Achebe, may be buried next month in his hometown, Ikenga Ogidi in Idemilii North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Achebe died after a brief illness at an undisclosed hospital in Boston, United States on March 21.

Though extended family members in Ogidi, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH did not want to commit themselves to any date till his children come home from their base in the US, sources in the state government said Governor Peter Obi had already consented to the fixing of a date in May.

The governor met with Achebe’s children in the US last week.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Joemartins Uzodike, told Saturday PUNCH that the burial arrangements would only be published after the family had formally briefed the state government.

“Though I cannot officially confirm it to you yet, from what I hear, the burial will likely be in May,” Uzodike said.

A former President General of Ikenga Ogidi Family Union, Dr. Emmanuel Obianagha, also told our correspondent that the author of Things Fall Apart might be buried in May.

Meanwhile, the country home of Achebe on Ogidi – Abatete Road remained shut on Thursday when our correspondent visited the place.

Sympathisers had to go to the local government headquarters and Government House, Awka to sign a condolence register opened for the late writer.

The state government has promised to give Achebe a grand burial in line with its policy to honour every Anambra citizen that has brought honour to the state.

In a related development, a close aide to Governor Peter Obi confirmed the burial plans to one of our correspondents mid-way into a meeting at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia area of Anambra State

Insisting not to be mentioned, the aide said the meeting involved some principal aides to Obi and members of Achebe’s family.

The source said, “So far, from their discussion, the late Achebe would be buried next month (May) but there is no final conclusion on the exact date.

“Three dates – May 11, 18 and 25 – have been thrown up for consideration, but that of May 11 is likely to be adopted going by the body language of his family members.

“Aside that, it is believed that May 11 would be ideal because the government does not want the burial activities to extend into the Democracy Day programmes for May 29, considering that it would be Governor Obi’s last Democracy Day in office.

“However, one thing that is certain is that if he (Achebe) is not buried on May 11, he would be buried anytime immediately after Democracy Day celebration on May 29.”