Assembly Begins Ex-Speaker’s Burial Process

Youths of Iwofe and Rumuolumeni communities, suburbs of Port Harcourt City, protesting the deplorable condition of Rumueprikom, Iwofe, Rumuolumeni Road last Monday.
Photo: Prince Obinna Dele.

The Rivers State House of Assembly last Monday released the full programme for the burial of the late former Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tonye Ezekiel Willie-Harry which began yesterday with a tennis tournament and tributes at the Port Harcourt Club 1928 .
Releasing the burial  programme to Assembly reporters in Port Harcourt, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, said the five-day burial  programme was released after due interface with the family of the deceased.
According to Hon. Amechree, following the death of the former Speaker,  “the State Government quickly liaised with the family and a burial committee under my headship was inaugurated. The committee interfaced with the family several times and a comprehensive burial programme was put in place”, he said.
Also,  a Novelty Football Match  between Cartel FC and Port Harcourt Club, will take place at the Football Section of the Port Harcourt Club 1928 tomorrow.
A candle-light procession and Service of Songs will also hold at the  home town of the deceased, Obuama in Degema Local Government Area, tomorrow.
On Friday, there will be  Tributes/Valedictory Session, while on Saturday, the body will leave the Shell Mortuary with a brief stopover at Port Harcourt Club by 7:30am and arrive at Obuama for a brief lying-in-state, funeral service/interment.
Rt. Hon. Amachree thanked the Rivers  State Government under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi its the support, the family, the  burial committee and the public that made the programme possible, saying that,  “there will be a sunrise”, following the “sunset” of the late former Speaker’s demise.
The late former Speaker died on October 4, 2013 in Algeria en route France where he was being flown for medical attention after he slumped in Port Harcourt days earlier.