Anambra State governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said his late father, Pa Simeon Soludo, will be buried according to the strict compliance with the Anambra State burial laws.
By Emma Ogbuehi
In apparent bid to lead by example, Anambra State governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has vowed that his late father, Pa Simeon Soludo, will be buried in strict compliance with the Anambra State burial laws.
The governor stated this after receiving a condolence letter from members of the State Executive Council, delivered by the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, and the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu.
Soludo thanked members of ANSEC for their thoughtfulness and solidarity at this difficult moment.
The disclosure was contained in a press statement issued by Soludo’s Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, on Thursday.
READ ALSO:
BREAKING: Soludo bans elaborate burials in Anambra, reduces mourning period to one week
The statement read, “The governor reiterated the symbolic coincidence of his father’s death, saying he died at about 7:45 am on Monday, November 6, 2023, which coincided with the anniversary of his election.
“Soludo further said his father lived a befitting life and will be accorded a decent burial devoid of obscenities. He added that the burial will be in strict compliance with the Anambra burial laws. No fanning of ego!
“The governor, however, promised to issue a formal statement in regards to the burial arrangements.”
Recall that the state House of Assembly had on April 9, 2019, enacted the Anambra State Burial/Funeral Ceremonial Control Law, with provisions for penalties against the offenders.
Soludo reiterated the need to observe the provisions of the law, last month. In giving teeth to the law, Soludo banned the use of billboards, banners and posters, as well as wake keep for burials and funerals in the state. The governor also reduced mourning period for the deceased to one week, warning against anyone that would go against the new regulations. The governor also ordered that vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activity for the deceased prior to burial shall terminate latest by 9pm.
Soludo, who issued the directives through a statement by his Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu reminded the people of the state that the state’s law on burial was still in force, warning that anyone who contravenes the law risks jail term.
The law stated:
“No person shall erect any billboard, banner, or posters of the deceased. Persons are allowed to erect only directional posts. No directional post shall be erected before seven days to the burial date and should be removed not later than seven days after the burial date.”
“No person shall deposit a corpse in the mortuary beyond two months from the date of death. Any person who contravenes this shall pay a fine of N100,000 or serve an imprisonment term of six months, or both.
“No person is allowed to block a road for any burial except with permission from the appropriate local government authority.
“No person shall publicly display a casket for fabrication and sale in the state, and any person who contravenes is liable to pay a fine of N50,000 or go to jail for one month, or both.
“There shall be no second funeral rites after burial except in the case of legacy.
“There shall be no wake-keep of any kind for any deceased person in the state. All vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activity for the deceased before burial shall terminate by 9 pm.
“There shall be no food, drink, live band, cultural entertainers during and after any vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activity for the deceased.
“All burial/funeral ceremonies shall be for a day, while burial mass/services shall commence not later than 9am and shall not last for more than two hours.
“No preserved corpse shall be exposed for more than 30 minutes.
“Undertakers should not be more than six in number and there shall be no undertakers’ display during the burial ceremony.
“There shall be no burial on any local market day of every town in the state.
“No funeral brochure shall be made, except for the Order of Mass/Service.
“No person shall subject any relation of a deceased person to a mourning period of more than one week from the date of burial/funeral”.
