Posted by From Toba Suleiman in Abeokuta on
Ogun State Government has declared Friday October 28, a work free day to enable the people of the state participate fully in the burial of the first lady, Chief Stella Obasanjo who died after a surgery in a Spainish hospital on Sunday.
Ogun State Government has declared Friday October 28, a work free day to enable the people of the state participate fully in the burial of the first lady, Chief Stella Obasanjo who died after a surgery in a Spainish hospital on Sunday.
The governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who announced this in Abeokuta after an emergency State Executive Council meeting, also disclosed that arrangements had been concluded to offer special prayers for the victims of the Bellview aircraft which crash landed at Lisa village in Ifo Local Government area of the state last Sunday.
Daniel urged Nigerians to give a befitting honour to the first lady, whom he described as 'an icon, a lady of means and a strong pillar that we are all going to miss."
He said the corpse would arrive Abeokuta on Thursday, October 27 for a lying in state at the Agbeloba House, Quarry road, Abeokuta, which would be followed by an interdenominational Christian wake service at the Valley View Auditorium, Government House.
He said the interdenominational burial service for late Mrs Stella Obasanjo would hold on Friday October 28 at the MKO Stadium, Abeokuta at 10:00am, after which the body would be interred at the President Olusegun Obasanjo's residence at Ita-Eko, Abeokuta.
He said dignitaries from all walks of life from both within and outside the country including the 36 governors, ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and top government officials were expected at the service and said that necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure a hitch free programme.
In a related development, Governor Daniel told newsmen that the interdenominational prayer session for the victims of the Bellview aircraft crash would hold on Thursday October 27 at the location of the crash at 8:00am.
He urged Nigerians to continue to be prayerful for the repose of the soul of the deceased and the families they left behind, adding that a memorable arcade would be erected at the location in their honour.
The governor said the road leading into crash site were been graded by the State Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA) and Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to facilitate access to the location.
Meanwhile, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo has cancelled all programmes scheduled for his palace for three days.
A statement by the Apena of Egbaland, Chief Gboyega Dosunmu, explained that the monarch took the decision out of respect for the victims of the ill-fated Bellview airline in which 117 people died as well s to mourn the demise of the nation's first lady, chief (Mrs) Stella Obasanjo.