By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN— GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, representatives of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and the family of the late former military governor of the defunct Midwest and Bendel states,  Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, met at Government House Benin City, yesterday, to finalize arrangements for the burial of the elder statesman.

General Ogbemudia

Meanwhile, the corpse of the elder statesman will arrive Benin Airport today from Lagos, and will be received by Governors Obaseki and Okowa of Edo and Delta states, from where it will be taken to his Ihenya residence, in Benin City, for the commencement of his burial rites ahead of interment on  Friday   at same venue.

Governor Okowa was represented at the meeting by the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr Festus Agas, which included the first son of the deceased, Samuel Ogbemudia Jr, and other members of the family.

After the meeting with Obaseki, the chairman of the Edo State committee for the burial and Secretary to Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie, led other members of the committee including the Chief of Staff to the governor, Taiwo Akerele, Gen. Charles, Chief Osaro Idah to a marathon meeting with the representative of the Delta State government.

Ogbemudia Jr, told Vanguard: “A charted aircraft will be bringing the corpse back from Lagos. Delta State and Edo State governors will be receiving the corpse then we will commence burial activities. He will be laid in state at the stadium and will finally be buried on Friday. As a family, we are satisfied with the arrangements being made by the two state governments.”