29th February, 2012
President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage are anxiously awaited tomorrow, Thursday March 1 by the government and people of Enugu state for the national funeral ceremony for the late Igbo leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu.
A work-free period between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. has been declared by the Enugu state government for tomorrow’s funeral obsequies.
When PMNews visited Okpara Square, Enugu, Wednesday, canopies have been mounted for the national funeral service.
Embankments of major roads like the Presidential Road were being painted black and white for the event.
Economic activities in Enugu, the capital of Enugu, popularly known as Coal City, were paralysed Monday as traders at the Ogbete, Enugu main market abandoned their shops to attend the requiem mass organised to honour the late Chukwuemeka Odumuegwu.
The requiem mass was held at Holy Ghost Catholic Church near Ogbete main market, which is the centre of business activities in the coal city.
A visit to some intercity commercial transport companies, like ABC Transport Company Limited, showed lull in business.
Most of them complained that passengers were not as many they used to be on other days.
It was also a very busy day for all the security agents in the state who were seen controlling traffic and searching persons to ensure adequate security of lives and property of Nigerians at the occasion.
The officiating priest at the church Rt Rev.Fr John Nwafor commended Ojukwu for his action during the war, saying that it was taken to reform Nigeria.
He called on Nigerians looking for leadership position to humble themselves the way Ojukwu did.
People from all walks of life attended the church service including ex-Biafran soldiers.
By Okafor Ofiebor/Enugu