According to the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, his late father, Pa Simeon Soludo, will be buried in strict accordance with the state’s burial regulations.
After receiving a letter of sympathy from the State Executive Council, which was delivered by Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, the Secretary to the State Government, and Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the Deputy Governor, the governor made this announcement.
Soludo thanked members of ANSEC for their thoughtfulness and solidarity at this difficult moment.
This was made known in a press statement issued by Soludo’s Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, on Thursday.
The statement read, “The governor reiterated the symbolic coincidence of his father’s death, saying he died at about 7:45 am on Monday, November 6, 2023, which coincided with the anniversary of his election.
“Soludo further said his father lived a befitting life and will be accorded a decent burial devoid of obscenities. He added that the burial will be in strict compliance with the Anambra burial laws. No fanning of ego!
“The governor, however, promised to issue a formal statement in regards to the burial arrangements.”
Recalled that the state burial laws which were enacted on April 9, 2019, by the state Assembly and recently reinforced to members of the public in the state, include the following, among others:
“No person shall erect any billboard, banner, or posters of the deceased. Persons are allowed to erect only directional posts. No directional post shall be erected before seven days to the burial date and should be removed not later than seven days after the burial date.”
“No person shall deposit a corpse in the mortuary beyond two months from the date of death. Any person who contravenes this shall pay a fine of N100,000 or serve an imprisonment term of six months, or both.
“No person is allowed to block a road for any burial except with permission from the appropriate local government authority.
“No person shall publicly display a casket for fabrication and sale in the state, and any person who contravenes is liable to pay a fine of N50,000 or go to jail for one month, or both.
“There shall be no second funeral rites after burial except in the case of legacy.
“There shall be no wake-keep of any kind for any deceased person in the state. All vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activity for the deceased before burial shall terminate by 9 pm.
“There shall be no food, drink, live band, cultural entertainers during and after any vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activity for the deceased.”
