Speaking at NgwaUkwu, first son of the late monarch and crown prince of the Ngwaukwu kingdom, Hon. Christopher Enweremadu, explained that after consulting with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and other stakeholders, the family decided to fix the funeral ceremonies from 10 to 17th December, 2021.
Enweremadu,who is also a former speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, commended the federal and state governments for their support to the family.
He said; After due consultations with the Enweremadu royal family, the relevant traditional authorities and the Governor of Abia State, Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu, I wish to inform the public that the date for the final burial rites for his Eminence, Dr. Bernard Onyenguzo Enweremadu, Eze Ukwu of NgwaUkwu, the 13th Onye isi of Ngwa land, will commence on 10th December, 2021 and end on 17th December 2021. Details of the activities would soon be made public. We wish to thank the federal and Abia state governments, well wishers and friends of the Enweremadu royal family for the show of love and support we have received. We look forward to your continued participation in ensuring a grand final passage for Dr. Bernard Enweremadu, Eze Ukwu of Ngwaukwu.
The former speaker further disclosed that the burial rites had been commenced by the seven villages of the Ngwa Ukwu community as part of the activities of the burial of the foremost monarch.
“We have concluded with those things that tradition necessitates the traditional authorities we must inform before we announce the burial date had been informed. I’m now at liberty to commence communication by way of letters to title holders, public officers, friends and well wishers of the family towards the burial programme. It will be administered by the Anglican Communion. Eze Ukwu was a man of many churches. So, we also expect that every other church would participate in the funeral services that will take place on the 17th December.”
On the choice of December for the burial, he explained that the family chose the date because it fell within the period of the annual Izu Ngwa festival in Ngwa land.
“We chose December because normally, there is a traditional ceremony called Izu Ngwa, it is during December it normally takes place, so, by the date we’ve chosen, this will be his last Izu Ngwa as Ezeukwu Ngwaukwu and that is the part of the reason December was chosen for his burial. It has taken this long to fix the date because it is an accumulation of many things; tradition, the person involved and the size of the family.
“EzeUkwu promoted culture and tradition. Ezeukwu promoted peace and love across Nigeria. He sought for a nation where people of all parts would be able to live in Nigeria as one, holding each other as brothers, being each other’s brother’s keeper. This was his most outstanding quality and he took the dream to wherever he went. Even in office, everything he did reflected his aspiration to see Nigeria as one nation.
“What we will miss in Eze Ukwu can’t be written, it is enormous. He is a comet that comes once in a lifetime and I doubt if we will ever see his likes again. If we are able to take the legacies he lived for, it will make us and the society and Nigeria, a much better place.”
