President Muhammadu Buhari and 36 state governors have been invited for the final burial rites of the late matriach of Awolowo, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.
Also, about 60 Bishops, 300 Clerics, including Pastors Adejare Adeboye and Tunde Bakare of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG and Latter Rain Assembly respectively, have been commissioned to participate in the two-week burial programme.
Addressing newsmen at Ikenne home of the Awolowos on the burial programme in a joint press conference, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Taiwo Adeoluwa and Chairman, Central Planning Committee, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu disclosed that the burial activities will span eleven days.
Both Awolowo and the state government disclosed that the activities would commence November 15 and end November 25, the late Awolowo’s 100th posthumous birthday.
According to Adeoluwa, the State government has invited all the 35 other state governors and secretaries to state government to join her in the special fanfare organised for the celebration of the late matriarch at Sagamu International Stadium on November 23.
According to him, the day was set aside for the people of the state to honour the departed Yeye Oodua of Yorubaland.
He also disclosed that the state executive would deliberate on the proposal by Governor Ibikunle Amosun to immortalise the matriarch and probably approve same on Monday next week.
While rolling out the programmes, Awolowo-Dosumu, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, revealed that no fewer than 60 bishops, 300 christian clerics have declared their readiness to attend the burial ceremonies.
She disclosed the church where Mama used to worship, Our Saviour’s Anglican Church where the service will hold can sit only 690 people so not all guests would be allowed inside the church during the service.
According to the programme, lying-in-state comes up November 15, at 12 pm at Park Lane, Apapa, Lagos, followed by Christian interdenominational service.
Monday, November 16, her body would depart to Ibadan for lying-in-state at Oke Bola, Ibadan. November 17-24 lying-in-state at Ikenne, home town of the Awolowos, while interment and reception will hold November 25 also at Ikenne.
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