Atiku Absent As Father-In-Law Is Buried At Night In Onitsha

The Burial of Chief Anthony Chukwuka Iwenjiora (Asagwali Omeikpo Of Onitsha), the father-in-law to the Presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at his Onitsha country home, Anambra State, weekend, was more of a roll call of who is who in PDP especially in the South East geo-political zone.

Alhaji Atiku who is married to one of the daughters of late Chief Iwenjiora, Mrs. Jennifer Abubakar, had in his tribute described his father-in-law as a great father-in-law, friend and disciplinarian who loved education dearly seeing it not only as a vehicle for individual and group advancement but also a veritable tool in the promotion of understanding and integrity among groups.

The PDP Presidential candidate who was conspicuously absent at the burial for reasons not immediately disclosed, had in his tribute said “I was greatly pained when news reached me that my father-in-law and friend over so many years, Chief Anthony Chukwuka Iwenjiora, had passed away.

“The pain was made more severe because it did not seem that long since he and I despite his failing health, had another of our usuall discussions about the challenges facing our country and what can be done to meet those challenges.

“His love for this country and desire for the unity of its people likely played a central role in his willingness to accede without reservation to my request to marry his beautiful daughter, Jennifer, despite obvious ethnic and religious differences.

“He was a disciplinarian who loved education dearly, seeing it not only as a vehicle for individual and group advancement but also a veritable tool in the promotion of understanding and integrity among groups”.

In his own tribute, ex-President Jonathan stated that, “Pa Iwenjiora was a man of great resources and companion whose unwavering desire to build human capital endeared him to marry in his community and beyond.

“His great accomplishment and dedication to work ethics inspired the younger generation mostly in the academia and business world.

“He was committed to the unity of our beloved country and his legacy is evident in the children and family he raised that are left to honour him and sustain all the positive virtues that he represented.”

Jennifer had in her tribute to her father said, “Daddy you have laid solid root for a generation of Iwenjioras to carry on your legacy. You are gone but you will always be on our hearts.”

In their various contributions, former governor of Anambra state and PDP Vice Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State former Governor of Enugu state, Chief Okwesirieze Nwodo, Senator Ben Obi, among others described late Iwenjiora as a mentor and father to be emulated and urged former Vice President Atiku, wife Jennifer and the Iwenjiora family to take heart as God in his infinite mercy would grant the deceased eternal rest.

Those who thought the corpse would have been buried at about noon for them to return home or wherever were waited in vain only to hear that the corpse would be buried at night.

The night burial was in keeping with the Onitsha Culture and Traditional burial rite accorded to a titled High Chief like late Chief Iwenjiora.

The dignitaries that included ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP Vice Presidental candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State former Governor of Enugu State, Chief Okwesirieze Nwodo, Senator Ben Obi, among others left after waiting in vain for the burial to take place.

The burial eventually took place at about 7pm when most mourners and those who paid condolence had left.