Newspaper report-Achebe family set to announce burial plan.

PROF. Chinua Achebe’s burial plan may be announced this week by his family in Ogidi, Idemili North, Anambra State.

And as at Sunday, The Guardian observed that the gate to the family home of the literary icon at Ikenga Ogidi remained locked.

Despite several knocks at the huge entrance of the family residence located along the Ogidi-Abatete-Ezi Owelle highway, there was no response.

But Rev. Emmanuel Obianagha, a cousin to the Achebe who spoke with The Guardian disclosed that the late novelist’s family was preparing for the announcement of his death officially in line with the Ogidi tradition.

According to him,

though the news is everywhere, Ogidi elders and the kinsmen have to tell the public in their traditional way before other ceremonies could follow.

Obianagha who lives very close to Achebe’s country home at Ogidi, also appealed to the Federal Government to give the literary icon a state burial for his role in bringing Nigeria to the international scene.

“The red cap chiefs, our regent, the president-general, Ogidi Town Union and other prominent indigenes of the town are rallying round to plan for the burial arrangement. Between now and Easter, I am sure there will be an announcement on the burial arrangement”, he said.

Paying Achebe tributes, he said the late writer was a man of the people who inspired the indigenes to go to school.

He said Achebe was former president-general, Ogidi Town Union and that he was also a titled chief “Ugo bee n orji” (the eagle that perches on an iroko tree), and that the community witnessed ample peace and felt the impact of his leadership.

The cleric who lamented that his death had left Ogidi community devastated, added: “We have lost a precious gift from God. You cannot discuss Nigeria without mentioning Achebe. He left a very big vacuum that will take a lot to be filled.”

A close neighbour to the Achebe family at Ogidi, Julius Obidike, said the death had thrown the town into deep mourning.

“A great iroko has fallen, Ogidi community has lost a great son and the loss is irreparable.

We cannot have another Chinua, even though there are many other members of the Achebe family”, Obidike noted.

He recalled that Achebe was involved in a motor accident in the 1980s while travelling in a chartered Peugeot 504 wagon, which left him crippled.

The Head of Department, Economics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Anambra State, Dr. Uche Nwaogwugwu, in his tribute said his death was a great loss to the Igbo nation.

“Achebe laid the foundation for Igbo anthropology, culture and history, so we should move on to the next level. The job is now left to the Igbo to continue from where he stopped”, Nwaogwugwu, said.

According to the Chairman, Igbo World Assembly (IWA), Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Achebe was to be honoured this weekend at the CISA/IWA retreat at Staunton Virginia.

Anakwenze described Achebe as a great man and academic star who was fearless to tell the truth as he saw it.