Federal Government Pulls out of Keshi’s Burial

Federal Government Pulls out of Keshi’s Burial

After much hassle and uncertainty, the final burial rites for legendary Super Eagles captain and coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, will start in Benin City, the Edo State capital tomorrow morning without the involvement of the Federal Government which has pulled out owing to “lack of funds”.

The FG, which initially planned the burial alongside the governments of Edo and Delta States, said it will play its part for the late football great after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“We don’t want a haphazard burial for such a great patriot, that is why the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has said the FG will play its own part after the Olympics”, a top source revealed to Vanguard.

“We will unveil details after the Games”, the source added.

But the family of the late icon is proceeding with the burial plans beginning with a Church Service on Thursday, July 28, at St’ Paul Catholic Church, Benin City, slated for 9am, before a novelty football match in his honour at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium where there will also be a lying in state.

The body then moves to Asaba, the Delta State capital, where there will be another lying in state at the Stadium named after him by former Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan. On entering his hometown Illah, the body will be received by the Obi of Illah, HRH Obi Gbemudu along with his high chiefs, as Keshi himself was a high chief of the Illah kingdom.

A requiem mass will then hold at St John, The Evangelist Catholic Church, after which the body will again lie in state for an hour at his home in Ilah before internment.

Top government functionaries of Edo and Delta States, and the entire country are expected at the event as the icon makes a glorious exit.