Guests file past the casket as they pay their last respect. The remains will now leave Awka for Achebe’s hometown of Ogidi where he will be buried on Thursday.
15.20
Anambra governor, Peter Obi, giving the keynote speech in Igbo language, says he had received condolences from 12 presidents from around the world. He also says that President Goodluck Jonathan will lead two others to tomorrow’s burial ceremony at Ogidi.
15.11
Senator Chris Ngige recounting how Achebe was “the only Igbo man” that spoke out when “Anambra was burning” in 2004 when he was the governor. “All these names you are hearing, everybody ran inside their homes. It was only him that spoke, wrote a letter to the president,” Mr. Ngige said in Igbo.
14.35
Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili eulogizes Achebe’s virtues and achievements.“There are some people who, when they die, words are not enough. What can one possibly say about Professor Chinua Achebe that could capture the life of the great man?”
At the end of her speech, she breaks down, into tears: “He said that there are many stars in the firmament, but some stars will shine more that the others. It is true. Uncle Chinua, keep shining.”
14.46
The speeches continue – from the Speaker ofthe Anambra State House of Assembly, the representative of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, as well as from that of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Andrew Wheeler, who represented the Archbishop ofCanterbury, began to influence his life since 1969 when he arrived in Uganda to study African History. “Even then in 1969, amongst the names of the people who were having profound influence on us, whether Western or African scholars, was the name of Professor.” ~ PREMIUM TIMES
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