Chairman
of the forum and Anambra State Governor Peter Obi announced this after a
meeting of the governors and members of the Achebe family.
The
meeting held at Enugu State Government House, had all the governors in
attendance, except Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who
represented by his deputy, Mr. Eze Madumere.
Okorocha is in London, where he is receiving treatment following an auto crash on Friday.
The PUNCH had two weeks ago reported that the burial of the renowned author would be held on May 23.
Meanwhile,
Obi, who spoke on the burial arrangements, also noted that plans were
underway for the construction of the Enugu International Airport.
He said, “We met today and took decisions on security as well as the Enugu International Airport.”
He said, “I want to announce to you that we also met with Achebe’s family today and we have fixed his burial for May 23, 2013.”
Obi said President Goodluck Jonathan would soon be in Enugu to turn the sod for the airport construction projects.
Speaking with journalists, Ikechukwu, son of the late author, described his father as “a great family man”.
He commended the Federal Government and the South-East governors for their support to the family since his father’s demise.
He
said, “The governors have also accepted to assist in his burial; we are
very grateful. President Jonathan was also the first to commiserate
with us when our father died; we are grateful to all of them.”
On
whether the family would accept a post-humous national honour on behalf
of the novelist and poet, he said, “We have not come to that yet. When
such comes, we shall take a decision on that.”
He,
however, added, “My father would definitely be remembered for what he
stood for – a Nigeria that is fair to everybody, a Nigeria that meets
the expectations of her citizens.”
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