Christy Essien Igbokwe to be buried in Lagos Sept 9

LADY of songs, Chief (Mrs) Christy Essien-Igbokwe (MFR), will  be buried, on Friday, September 9, in Lagos State. The decision was taken on Wednesday, at the inaugural meeting of the  grand burial committee set up to coordinate activities and programmes for the final journey of the great music icon and Nigerian patriot.The burial committee, which has former Delta State commissioner for Sports, Dr Austin Izagbo as chairman, has set up seven sub-committees charged with the duty of designing and executing specific aspects of the burial programme.The grand burial committee has Mr Fred Romeo Obika as Coordinating Secretary.The sub-committees have been directed to start work immediately. The aim is to give the Lady of Songs, who gave happiness to millions of people in Nigeria and beyond, a deserved and unforgettable farewell.The sub-committees included Publicity, Ceremonial, Welfare, Security, Special Duties, Logistics and Finance.One of the key decisions of the meeting, which was held at the Ikeja residence of the Igbokwe family was that a dedicated “Christy Essien-Igbokwe Endowment Fund” account be set up immediately and be managed with utmost transparency and professionalism by a finance sub-committee made up of chairman of the grand committee, Mr Austin Izagbo; constitutional lawyer, Mr Fred Agbaje; Mr Marcel Ikedudu, a retired banker; Dr Patrick Igbokwe, member of the Igbokwe family and Mr Mike Ejezie. The account will act as a single repository for all contributions and donations towards the burial activities.     It was also decided that former Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) president and chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, should act as chairman of the publicity committee in the interim. The publicity committee is made of several journalists across the length and breadth of the Nigerian media, many of whom were close friends of the fallen songstress.During the meeting, Chief Edwin Igbokwe, husband of the deceased former president of PMAN, took time off to receive the throng of sympathisers who had been visiting the family since the incident occurred.He said he was humbled by their quick response and implored the members to design the burial arrangements with Nigerians in mind saying that Christy in her life time sought to reach out to people in every corner of the nation through her music and different social activities.“We all can testify to the fact that Christy was pan-Nigeria, She never discriminated against any beliefs and anyone. She was a woman for all,” he said amidst sobs. According to Chief Igbokwe, the passage of Christy and the sympathies that the family had received from thousands of people across the nation had thrown upon him and the family members a very daunting challenge over the handling of her burial rites. He added that the emotions that the death of Christy had generated among the people had made him to realise the extent to which his wife was loved by all. He again thanked the committee for helping to lift much of the huge burden that was suddenly thrust on his shoulders by Christy’s death.Before adjourning the meeting of the full committee, it was decided that all the sub-committees should get together, expand themselves where necessary and come to the next full committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 13 with their reports. It was also decided that all those who had been nominated to the burial committee who could not be present at the inaugural meeting be contacted to attend the meeting of July 13.Notable among those present at the meeting were Mr Tee Mac Itseli, Mr Laolu Akins, Mr Emma Ogosi, Ms Clarion Chukwurah, Ms Yeni Kuti, Mr Fred Agbaje and Mr Muka Popoola. Culled from : Nigerian Tribune