Abuja – Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has warned against the politicising of Capt. Elechi Amadi’s burial.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the statement, Wike said the Late literary icon deserved a befitting burial for his contributions to the development of the state, Nigeria and humanity.
The governor inaugurated a State Burial Committee for the burial at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
During the innaguration, Wike urged the family to cooperate with the committee to ensure that the late literary icon got the deserved befitting burial.
He warned against the politicisation of the burial, adding that the state government would not struggle with any group on who should organise the burial.
He said,“if the family do not want Rivers State Government to participate in the burial, it should make its position known.”
Wike said the committee was set up after wide consultation with stakeholders, to carry every group along, adding that the committee could co-opt more members as the need arose.
He urged the committee to ensure the burial took place in 2016 and weather the state should play a part in the date for the burial.
Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Frank Ohwor, assured the governor that members of the committee would work towards a befitting burial for the literary icon.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those inaugurated by the governor are Mr Frank Owhor, Chairman; Mr David Briggs, Secretary and Mr Paul Wonodi, Deputy Chairman.
Mr Monday Mgbor, Mr Hope Ikiriko, Mr Chris Orji and Chairman, Ikwerre Local Government Area are also members of the committee.
Others are Henry Wordu, Dr Preye Elechi Amadi, Mr Carl Amadi , Mr Azubuike Elechi-Amadi, Prof S.C. Achinewhu, Mr Ben Ugo and Mr V. Amadi.
NAN reports that the late Elechi Amadi born on May 12, 1934, and was a Nigerian author who had written five African novels – The Concubine, The Great Ponds, The Slave, Isiburu and Estrangement.
Born in Aluu in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers, he attended Government College Umuahia and the University of Ibadan where he obtained a degree in Physics and
Mathematics.
Amadi’s novels are generally about African village life, customs, beliefs and religious practice, as they are all set before contact with the Western world.
Elechi died on June 29 at Good Heart Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt.(NAN)
