By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—ABIA State government said, yesterday, it abstained from the burial ceremonies of late Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who was buried last Friday, in respect of  his wishes and those of his family.

The government said the late senator, who represented Abia North senatorial district before his death, instructed that the government should steer clear of his burial.

The instruction, the government said, was handed down to the family before his demise.

Briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, in reactions on the non-participation of Abia State government in the senator’s burial, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. A.C.B. Agbazuere, said the family of the late senator kept government in the dark regarding the senator’s health condition and even rebuffed concerted efforts made by it to be part of the burial.

According to Agbazuere, no responsible person or government could have ignored such action.

He lamented that no member of the family bothered to inform Abia State government that Senator Uche Chukwumerije had serious health challenges, let alone informing it of his death.

He said: “No member of the Chukwumerije’s family bothered to inform Abia State government that Senator Uche Chukwumerije had serious health challenges.

“Notwithstanding the afore stated, when the news of the death of Senator Uche Chukwumerije was received, His Excellency, Chief T. A. Orji, the Governor of Abia State, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, sent out a condolence message which was widely published by both the print and electronic media.

“His Excellency, the governor equally sent the Liaison Officer in charge of   Abuja, Mr. Ogbonna Anyaoha, to the Chukwumerije’s family, as protocol demands, to inform them that he was coming to visit the family at their Abuja residence. This request was turned down.”

According to Agbazuere, the State Attorney-General, Chief Umeh Kalu, was also dispatched to the late senator’s family to secure a date and time for the governor’s planned condolence visit, but the commissioner was turned back, with Chukwumerije’s first son, Che and others allegedly rebuffing the governor’s request.

He alleged that the family told Umeh that they were not expecting the governor and that the state should steer clear of the burial.