SAN FRANCISCO, June 22, (THEWILL) – Kinsmen of the late former Super Eagles’ coach, the Ogbe Onyeogu Family, Ukpologwu have rejected the proposal by his in-laws, Aburime Family, for him to be buried in Benin, stressing that the deceased must be interred at Illah citing his high ranking chieftaincy status in the community as a major reason for their stance.
In a letter to the Aburime family, Mr. Ogugua Ewenmaya who signed on behalf of the family patriarch, Ogbuenyi Benjamin Onwuadiamu held that “an issue of this nature needs no further elaboration, as it is customary in Nigeria that most persons, particularly high profile personalities, are buried in their hometown.
Ogbuenyi Onwuadiamu further stated that the request for Keshi to be buried in Illah, stemmed from his last wish prior to his demise, that he be interred at his house in his hometown, Ogbe Onyeogu Ukpologwu Illah, which is in conformity with Illah tradition, the Ewu tradition and the Chieftaincy institution which he willingly subscribed to during his lifetime.
He stressed that “to do the otherwise, may portend some consequences in future going by the Illah culture and tradition, more so as the deceased was a Palace Chief(the Onwa Na Etili Ora of Illah Kingdom). The recent internment of his colleague; friend Ahmadu Shuaibu in Okpella Edo State is a leading example”
The statement further observed that the Delta State Government, which recently named the Asaba Township Stadium after him (Steven Okechukwu Stadium Asaba), “will play a prominent role as the chief host of Steven Keshi’s burial in Illah after necessary obsequies in Asaba.”
