From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Government has inaugurated a national committee for the burial of late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who died November 19, in a London hospital.
This was even as government said it will foot the burial bill, which includes transporting his remains from London, the United Kingdom, to Nigeria.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, announced this at the inauguration of the committee, in his office, yesterday.
Mustapha, who gave assurances the Ekwueme family are part of the committee, reiterated their father will be given a befitting state burial, and eulogised the former vice president as a personality who served his Fatherland meritoriously.
Members of the committee, which is chaired by the SGF, include Ministers of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, Mr. Ibrahim Idris and Mallam Lawal Musa Daura.
Others are Pastor Goodheart Obi Ekwueme, Secretary to the State Government (Anambra), Prof. Osita Chukwulobelu and the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Roy Ugo, who will serve as the committee secretary, in a statement signed by Mustapha’s Deputy Director (Press), Mohammed Nakorji.
Atiku commended the members of the caretaker committee for their efforts in rebuilding and rebranding the PDP, stating that he was back to contribute his quota to the repositioning of the opposition party.
However, the former vice president warned that he will not compromise internal democracy in any political party he belongs to.
He said:”We should remember that those of us who founded this party, founded it on the principles of democracy, good governance, unity of this country and the prosperity of its people.
“Over the years, like any or every human organisation, it has faced its challenges but I want to pay tribute to those who have stayed steadfast through thick and thin to see us through to this point. Now that we have learnt our lessons, I hope that we will be guided by the lessons we have learnt. And that is to make sure that we build an all inclusive party, where every part of this country will have a sense of belonging and sense of participation.
“To achieve all these, there must be sacrifices, understanding and compromises in the process of achieving that. And that is what I speak to members to imbibe. But as you know, one thing that I will never compromise is the internal democracy process in a given political party. And I hope we all must have learnt our lessons.”
On his part, chairman, PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi expressed joy that Atiku returned to the party before its December 9 National Convention.
Makarfi reiterated his earlier claim, that the PDP did not enter into any secret deal with the former vice president prior to his return to the party.
His words: “You have returned in good time and you should continue to contribute in this reinvention, remodeling of our party so that come 2019, we can reclaim what we can claim is ours.
“…You will also help us reinvent the vehicle that will take us to Aso rock in 2019, we are not just targeting Aso Rock, we are targeting the federal legislature, the state both the executive and legislature. We are targeting the local governments. We want to sweep elections all across the country.”
He said the opposition party is optimistic that Atiku’s return will pave the way for its former members still outside the fold to come back.
“Your Excellency, you have opened the flood gates and we expect many more high profile returnees and new entrants into the PDP. So PDP must be prepared for this, and be ready to reconcile and reiterate in such a way and manner that everybody will be treated and given a level playing field to purse his or her personal aspiration. That is what PDP must stand for, if it has to survive” Makarfi said.