African leaders, including President Goodluck Jonathan and President John Mahama of Ghana, are expected to attend the burial of Prof. Chinua Achebe on Thursday in Ogidi, Anambra State.
The Archibishop of Canterbury, Most Rev. Justin Welby, has said he would send a representative to attend the burial.
The Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Oseloka Obaze, announced this in Awka, the state capital, on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on preparations for the burial of the literary icon.
He said that as an international citizen who brought fame and global limelight to Nigeria through his literary works, Achebe deserved the “greatest honour” even in death.
He said the funeral service would hold at St. Philip Anglican Church, Ogidi, while his final resting place would be in his family compound.
He said: “Governor Peter Obi has been consulting with the federal authorities, South East governors, the Ogidi community and the Achebe family to accord the literary icon a befitting burial.
“The state government is fully involved in the planning.
“We have put down resources at Ogidi, provided security, accommodation for visiting guests, cleaned out the environment and worked on the roads in the area.”
Obaze said Obi would on Wednesday lead other Nigerians to perform “the celebration of life” for the late “Eagle on Iroko” at the Alex Ekweme Square, Awka.
He appealed to members of the public, especially civil servants, to turn out en masse to accord the deceased his last respect.
The SSG, however, ruled out the closure of markets and declaration of public holiday for workers for the burial, saying that the government would not disrupt people’s businesses.
Asked if the government planned to immortalise him, Obaze said: “It will happen in the course of time.
“We will consult the Achebe family before we embark on anything.”
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