Preparations for the burial of late legal luminary and statesman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN), got underway on December 12, 2023 with the inauguration of the national burial committee co-chaired by former Commonwealth Secretary-General and Chairman of The Patriots, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; and President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
The pioneer Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo died on October 29 in Lagos at the age of 91.
The Nwabueze family had earlier announced members of the burial committee to include Anyaoku and Iwuanyanwu (co-chairmen), Senator Ben Ndi Obi (vice-chairman), Ambassador Okey Emuchay and Olawale Okunniyi (co-secretaries), Damien Obiefule (Assistant Secretary), Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), Chijioke Okoli (SAN) and prominent journalist, Ikechukwu Amaechi.
Others include Arinze Oduah, Chief Ben Egonu, Prof. Ikenna Alumona, Chief Chukka Ifejika, Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi, Hon. Somto Udeze, Nkechi Chukwurah, Nnenna Okwuosa, Jenkins Alumona, Senator Uche Ekwunife and Hon. Pascal Aniegbuna.
A statement by Amaechi, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-committee, on Tuesday said the burial programme of the revered constitutional lawyer will take place from February 23 to March 5, 2024, commencing with a court session in his honour on February 23.
This will be followed by a Day of Tributes in Lagos on February 24 and on February 2n the eminent National leaders of Nigeria, popularly known as The Patriots, will organise a colloquium in Lagos.
Thereafter, the burial activities will shift to the South East, where Ohanaeze Ndigbo will organise a Day of Tributes on February 27 in Enugu.
Alumona, who spoke on behalf of the family, said the remains of Prof. Nwabueze, the Oduah Afo-na-Isagba of Atani, will be interred in his Atani country home in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State in what will be a traditional private ceremony.
The reception and celebration of the worthy life of Nwabueze, a former Minister of Education, will take place in Atani on March 2.
This will be followed by a three-day traditional burial rites from March 3 to 5.
The inaugural meeting, which took place at the FRA Williams Chambers, Ilupeju, Lagos State, and chaired by Chief Anyaoku, also had in attendance Amaechi, Okunniyi, Senator Obi, Alumona, Oduah, Okoli, Obiefule, Chukwurah and Okwuosa.
Other members joined virtually.
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Prominent members of The Patriot, including Prof. Anya O. Anya, Senator Bassey Henshaw, Chief Ralph Obioha, General Ike Nwachukwu, Prof. Remi Sonaiya and Prof. Anthony Kila, were also present at the inauguration.
Chief Anyaoku, in his opening remarks, enjoined all to work towards giving the late Nigerian National Order of Merit awardee, who became a SAN in 1978 strictly on the basis of his published works, a befitting burial.
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