BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—ATTENDANCE of today’s ceremonies in Awka for the burial of the late Professor Chinua Achebe is mandatory for civil servants in Anambra State, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, has said.

Obaze, who briefed newsmen yesterday on the preparations for the burial, said though there would be no work free day, workers were to be at Ekwueme Square for the activities taking place in Awka, the state capital.

Obaze said: “We don’t want to declare work free day for Achebe because doing that may be an indirect way of asking the workers to stay at home without coming to the ceremony.”

Apart from civil servants, government has also been appealing to the general public to attend the ceremonies as a mark of respect for the literary icon.