BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA -THE local organising committee, LOC, for the burial of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, said Sunday that there would be no role for members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, in all the venues during the ceremonies.

Addressing newsmen, chairman of the committee and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Dubem Obaze, said MASSOB had not been part of the arrangements and would, therefore, not be assigned any role.

Vanguard recalls that MASSOB had been very active at the homes of Ojukwu both in Enugu and Nnewi since his death, with members of the group receiving and guiding those who came to pay condolences.

In fact, at the Iba Ojukwu at Nnewi where the condolence register was kept, a big Biafran flag was mounted there, with MASSOB members taking charge of activities.

They have also been providing security at the gates of the late leader of the defunct Biafra. Obaze said : “There will be no role for vigilante and MASSOB as Ojukwu is a core military man.”

According to him, special arrangement has been made for security during the burial. Obaze also advised those who would join the ceremonies to keep their bags at home as thorough search would be conducted at the venues.

He said markets in Anambra State will close on March 1, 2012, while markets where Igbo people do business all over the country would be shut on March 2 as agreed  by the traders themselves.  The state government has also declared public holiday on March 1 when the body would arrive Anambra State.