Azazi’s Kinsmen Kicks against his Burial in Yenogoa
Elders and youths from Peretorugbene, the hometown of the late National Security Adviser, General Andrew Owoeye Azazi, have kicked against the plan to bury the late General in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital
The immediate family of the late General in consultation with the Bayelsa state government had fixed the December 28th and 29th for his burial ceremony in the state, with plans to bury him in a site, within Yenagoa.
Addressing a news conference in the state capital on Thursday, some natives of Peretorugbene in Ekeremor local government council of the state led by the Tonkepa of Oporomor kingdom, Chief Abeke Ebikake, described late General Azazi as a great leader who had tremendous respect for the Ijaw tradition and culture, hence their demand for his body to be interred in his home town.
Also speaking at the occasion, the youth leader of Peretorugbene Kingdom, Mr Clement Ekpefa appealed to the wife of the late general to reconsider the decision of the family, saying the planned burial of General Azazi in Yenagoa is an “aberration.”
Peretorugbene is a riverine community in Bayelsa. It is reported that the families decision was based on averting numerous helicopter flights that will be needed to convey the General’s corpse and guest to the community.
The former NSA died in a helicopter crash in Nembe area of Bayelsa state on the 15th of December, alongside the former governor of Kaduna state, Mr Patrick Yakowa and four others.
As part of funeral activities for the late General Owoye Azazi, a service of songs was held in his honour in Lagos on Wednesday.