THE prompt intervention of the police in Anambra State and the traditional ruler of Isuofia community in Aguata Local Government Area of the state, Igwe Okpara Unegbu, saved what would have marred the burial of the elder sister of the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, the late Mrs. Gloria Uzoamaka Ezenwanne, at the weekend.

Sunday Tribune gathered at Umeze village in Isuofia that angry youths had gone to the venue prepared by the minister to host her guests after the burial of her sister and dismantled the predominantly white canopies mounted at the place.

The deceased was also an in-law of the former Central Bank Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

According to sources, the youth were displeased by what they alleged was the impropriety of the parallel reception arranged by the minister since she was allegedly not in talking terms with the woman, who was the mother of Dr. Nonye, the wife of Professor Soludo, until her death.

Community sources also said that the youth expressed displeasure with Professor Akunyili over what they claimed was an act against their custom and that she should have joined hands with the sister’s family to host a reception.

Following the confirmation that the minister was planning to host a parallel ceremony at the home of the neighbours of the Ezenwanne’s, youths of the community gathered and dismantled the canopies in the early hours of the day as the relations of the late Mrs. Ezenwanne went to retrieve her body from the mortuary.

The act incurred the wrath of the two mobile policemen and soldiers said to be in the advance team of Professor Akunyili.

The two mobile policemen, Ajih Ahmadu and Levi Adekwu, and three soldiers were said to have caught up with four of the youth dismantling the canopies and allegedly beat them to stupor, thereby heightening tension in the community that morning.

Information got to the Aguata Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Illiya Madaki, who was said to have arrived promptly at the area in company with some senior police officers.

While the requiem mass was going on at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover, arrived at the church and consulted with Mr. Madaki, on ways to resolve the matter before the end of the church service to avoid crisis during the reception.

After getting some community leaders together inside the church premises, Oshodi-Glover allegedly consulted with the monarch of the town for guidance on the tradition of the people on such issues.  

Sources told Sunday Tribune that Igwe Unegbu told Glover that whenever a married woman died, her immediate family comprising the husband and children would be the chief mourners and therefore host all other relations and friends who would all be guests to the family.

He declared that Dora Akunyili, who hails from Nanka with the deceased but married in Agulu, had no business trying to host her own guests in a parallel tent, saying traditionally, Akunyili and other sisters and brothers of the deceased were supposed to witness the internment of their sister and later go back to Agulu or anywhere else to host their guests if they so desired.     

Following this, an announcement was made that Professor Akunyili’s guests would be hosted at their father’s compound in Nanka, about 10 minutes drive from Isuofia.

Reacting, Professor Akunyili denied that she was not in speaking terms with her late sister, pointing out that she had chosen the venue for convenience, saying there was nothing wrong in hosting her own visitors at a venue of her choice.

The minister said the story was being spread by somebody to tarnish her image politically.

She said she wouldn’t know why the canopies at the venue she chose were dismantled by the youth, adding that she did not know what happened there between her security aides and the youth.

In his sermon at the funeral mass, Bishop Amatu described Madam Gloria Ezenwanne as a virtuous woman who lived in the service of God and prayed for the repose of her soul in eternity while the Information Minister said she was deeply pained when she was told of her sister’s death and thanked Dr. Nonye and her husband Professor Soludo for taking good care of the deceased while she was alive.   

In his own remark, Soludo lamented the poor medical facilities in the country, disclosing that several Nigerian hospitals gave the deceased a clean bill of health until they took her abroad to discover that she had a serious health challenge. He said that though he was an in-law to the deceased, having married her first daughter, Madam Gloria had been his de-facto mother for over 20 years because he lost his own mother while he was just eight years, while Emeka, the Chief mourner said his mother gave everything she had to the service of God and humanity.

Among the dignitaries that attended the occasion were two former vice presidents, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and his deputy, former governor Chris Ngige, several senators including Annie Okonkwo and Emma Anosike and House of Representatives members from Anambra and other states of the nation.

Others include Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other party leaders among numerous others.

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