Posted by By Funmi Komolafe, Osaro Okhomina & Simon Ebegbulem on
Labour Leader No. 1, Chief Michael Athokhamien Imoudu is to be buried on October 7, in his Oke-Ora residence in Edo state.
Labour Leader No. 1, Chief Michael Athokhamien Imoudu is to be buried on October 7, in his Oke-Ora residence in Edo state.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has also held consultations with family members of the deceased on how to give Imoudu a hero's burial.
Governor Lucky Iginedion announced the date of the burial after he held consultations with family members in Ora yesterday.
He described the late Labour Leader No. 1 as "an Ambassador of the State and the nation", adding that Imoudu lived a life worthy of emulation by all."
The Edo state government also announced that the State's Institute of Physical Education, Afuze will be named after the late Imoudu.
Also paying tributes to Pa Imoudu, Dr. Edwin Madunagu described him as a great nationalist and warned that Government should not be allowed to hijack his burial.
NLC President, Adams Oshiomhole who met with Pa Imoudu's daughter and some family members in Abuja over the weekend told Vanguard, "I was in a meeting when I was informed of the death of Imoudu. Though he was old, I was shocked. For some minutes, I could not get myself together."
A source present at the meeting said NLC plans to be fully involved in the burial.
"We are planning a hero's burial for Imoudu", the source said.
The Edo state government delegation which visited the Imoudus in Oke-Ora included the Deputy Governor, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe and Senator Tunde Ogbeha.
The Deputy Governor said Imoudu was a leader who did not use his office for personal aggrandizement. He said Imoudu showed a positive example of humility, adding, "he fought with courage and dignity for the welfare of Nigerian workers."
Earlier, Governor Lucky Igbinedion in a statement on Pa Imoudu signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Lucky Wasa described Imoudu as "an illustrious elder statesman, a frontline unionist and a dogged and astute labour leader whose indelible imprint on the socio-economic development of the nation will endure for long".
Meanwhile, the NLC has opened condolence registers for the deceased labour leader in its Abuja and Lagos offices .
It has also directed all state councils to open condolence registers in honour of the late labour leader.