AS activities for the burial of the late former military governor of old Imo state, Commodore Amadi Guy Ikwechegh, gather momentum, the committee planning the burial has accused the governments of Imo and Ebonyi states of non cooperation, despite official communication to that effect.
Secretary of the burial committee, Ogbonnaya Ogwo, who made the allegation yesterday, during a press briefing in Umuahia on the burial arrangements for the late military administrator, said it is the inexcusable duty of all three states that emerged from old Imo to jointly give the late military administrator a befitting burial.
“The committee however regrets the non-participation of the two sister states of Imo and Ebonyi (former components of old Imo state that the commodore governed) even after due notification,” he lamented.
Ogwo, who was flanked by four members of the 18-member committee, said the family of the late Igbere-born military governor had officially notified the two states of his death on November 11, 2009, which was later followed up with another letter from Abia state governor, Chief Theodore Orji, intimating his Imo and Ebonyi counterparts of the burial plans.
Meanwhile, according to the burial programme announced by the committee, Ikwechegh would begin the journey for his final rest on December 17 from Port Harcourt with stopovers at Owerri and Umuahia before arriving Igbere in Bende LGA of Abia state for interment after Christian rites.
The committee however noted with appreciation the concern and support of the government and people of Abia, the hierarchy of the Nigerian Navy as well as friends of the Ikwechegh family to give the fallen soldier a befitting burial.