Photos: Nigerian Legend, Stephen Keshi is Buried Today

Photos: Nigerian Legend, Stephen Keshi is Buried Today

Former Nigeria captain and coach Okechukwu Stephen Keshi was on Friday laid to rest in his home town of Illah in Delta State.

The final journey home for the legendary Keshi, who passed away on June 8, began with a church service on Thursday at St Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin City.

The ‘Big Boss’ was then moved to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where a novelty match was played in his honour, followed by the lying in state for loved ones and admirers to pay their last respect, Cable writes.

His body was then moved to Asaba, the Delta state capital, on Friday, where there was a lying in state at the stadium named after him by former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

On arrival, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa urged family members of the late coach to take solace in the fact that he lived a good life. While calling on the family to be peaceful throughout the ceremony, Okowa said that “a befitting burial is when it is peaceful and acceptable to Almighty God, it is not about doing things elaborately.”

From Asaba, the body was taken to his homestead in Illah, where it was received by the Obi Gbemudu, the Obi of Illah, along with his high chiefs – as Stephen Keshi himself was a high chief of the Illah kingdom

A requiem mass at St’ John, The Evangelist Catholic Church wrapped the funeral rites before a final lying in state and interment at his country home in Illah.

Two of Keshi’s children – Jenifer and Sylvester – who spoke at the occasion, thanked the governments of Edo and Delta States for contributing towards a successful burial ceremony.