The Anglican Church has said it will not
release the body of the renowned author, Prof. Chinua Achebe, to the
Ogidi community, Anambra State for burial.
Similarly, the church and family of the
late professor have said that they will not allow his wife, Christy, to
go through the traditional widowhood rites that women who lose their
husbands in Igboland are made to undergo.
The Archdeacon of Ogidi and Vicar of St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Ven. Obi Ubaka, told Saturday PUNCH
that the body of Achebe belonged to the church, which shall perform the
final rites for the fallen statesman on Thursday, May 23.
The church’s reaction came as Chief S.
Okoli, the Regent of Ogidi, Achebe’s hometown, said the late author
would be buried at night because he was a titled man.
Okoli had said, “As a titled man, he
(Achebe) will be buried towards evening in line with our culture and
tradition. His body will lie in state in the yam barn where daughters of
the clan shall pay him their last respects before he will be buried in
the night.”
But the archdeacon said, “He (Achebe) is
going to be buried immediately after the church service at 1 pm in
broad daylight. It is not true that he will be buried at night.
“The church won’t hand over the body to
the community. Which one has the upper hand; the church or the
community? The church has the upper hand in this case. He was a
Christian and should be buried in a Christian way,” Ubaka insisted.
Similarly, the Achebe family said the issue of when and how the late author would be buried was not a subject of dispute.
The head of the Umu Ada Achebe (the female members of the family), and niece of the late author, Mrs. Ngozi Ezedum, told Saturday PUNCH that the story that her uncle would be buried at night according to traditional rites was an unfounded speculation.
“He was from a real Christian family. And in the Achebe family, we do things the Christian way,” Ezedum said.
She said the title that Achebe held did
not in any way compromise his religion as a Christian. Achebe’s Ozo
title is Ugo Belu N’Orji (Eagle on the Iroko).
Ezedum said Achebe’s wife could feel
free to come home without fear that she will be made to undergo
traditional widowhood rites.
“I have told my uncle’s wife that I am around, nobody will do anything,” the head of the Umu Ada said.
She, however, said other traditional
rites like searching for Achebe and taking care of his body by the women
would be performed.
She said the Anglican Church in the
Niger Diocese had long abolished the widowhood rites because they were
repugnant to good conscience.
Such practices include making the widow
to shave her head, drink the water used to bathe her husband’s corpse,
sit on the floor and sleep in the same room with the corpse.
“She will not even wear any mourning clothe black or white. The Anglican Church doesn’t want that anymore,” Ezedum said.
Meanwhile, preparations for the burial of the late literary icon are ongoing.
His Ikenga Ogidi country home is a
beehive of activities as workers, artisans and builders work round the
clock to erect a mausoleum, which would serve as his final resting place
and obi, the major reception in his compound.
The compound situated on the Ogidi-Abatete Road was cordoned off and only the people working on the project are allowed in.
The main house is also being given a facelift, while a new coat of paint has been added to the perimeter fence.
The entire Ikenga Ogidi community is
also being given a face-lift as the Idemili North Local Government
Council has been grading roads leading to the family home of the Achebes
and the St. Philip Church, where the funeral service will be conducted.
The church building is also being
rehabilitated, with dozens of painters, masons, tile layers, iron
benders and electricians working on the new church auditorium, which has
been selected to host the burial service.
The Archdeacon of the church, Ven. Obi
Ubaka, said the family had provided financial assistance to finish the
work on the new church building so that it would be ready to host the
event.
“The Primate of the Church of Nigeria
will lead the officiating ministers. He will be supported by the
Archbishop of the Niger, the Most Rev. Christian Efobi, and the Bishop
on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo,” Ubaka said.
Secretary to the Anambra State
Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, who was in Ogidi to monitor the level of
work on the projects, told Saturday PUNCH that President Goodluck Jonathan and two other heads of state would be present at the burial.
Oseloka denied claims by some family
members that the Anambra State Government had not provided substantial
financial support for the burial of the author and playwright.
Though he did not want to go into
details, Obaze said, “That is categorically wrong. That impression is
wrong. Anybody, who has said that is not being forthright. That is
wrong,” he said.
(Punch)
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Hypocrites you all!. Do you know where Chinualumogu's soul is NOW?. WE SHOULD ALL RETURN TO THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD,FORSAKING OUR EVIL WAYS. Hope he rests in peace.
ReplyDeleteWith the fall of Obi Okonkwo, did we not know that culture and tradition went with the winds, and Christianity took over?
ReplyDeleteChinualumuogu Achebe will be buried in Christian way and the church service @ St Philip Anglican Church Ogidi. He has made us proud umu-ogidi.....May His Soul Rest In Peace AMEN. Ify Afunugo (Ogidi-PH)
ReplyDelete