Ekwueme’s Burial: FG inaugurates SGF, Fashola, Lai Mohammed, Obiano, other committee members

FG inaugurates 11-member committee.

The Federal Government has inaugurated an 11-member committee on Tuesday in Abuja to organise a state burial for late former Vice- President, Dr Alex Ekwueme who died in London hospital on November 19.

The Chairman of the committee, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, urged the committee to ensure that the late Ekwueme gets a beffiting state burial.

Mustapha said the committee will welcome new ideas while noting that the plan to follow would be in line with the previous state burial committees.

“Owing to the top public office he once held in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari thought it befitting to organise a state burial for him.

“This is also in keeping with the tradition in that regard as was done to the late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, former Chief of General staff. Same for the late Admiral Mike Akhigbe, former Chief of General staff who died in 2013.

“The only difference now is the absence of the Nigerian Navy in the burial committee. The Nigerian Navy had played prominent roles in the burial activities of former chiefs of general staff, who incidentally were both at different time, Chiefs of Naval Staff,” he said.

The SGF said further that the Nigeria Police would effectively play some of the roles that the Nigerian Navy had played previously.

Mustapha said the late Mr. Ekwueme’s services to ensure the unity and stability of Nigeria would remain indelible.

Other members of the committee are: Roy Ugo, Secretary of the committee; Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing; Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information; Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance; Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment; Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra, Ibrahim Idris, Lawal Daura, Director-General, State Security Service, Goodheart Ekwueme and Osita Chukwulobelu.