Nwabueze’s final journey home begins Thursday: In his last major interview, Prof Nwabueze told TheNiche newspaper in March 2017: “Nigeria, I am sure will be a viable project, if we embrace restructuring. Nigeria cannot be a viable project as it is presently constituted. If it is restructured and we have a change in attitude to leadership, to governance, this country can be a very good project.”
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Prof Ben Nwabueze National Burial Committee co-chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Monday, announced activities for the burial of the foremost Constitutional Lawyer.
Prof Nwabueze, extraordinary scholar, teacher, lawyer, winner of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and one-time Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, died on October 29, 2023 at the age of 92.
A statement by the Committee said the burial activities will commence on Thursday, February 22, 2024 with a Valedictory Court Session at the Lagos State High Court Premises, Ikeja, at 2pm. The event will be presided over by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba.
As part of the obsequies to the dead, Friday, February 23, 2024, has been scheduled as a Day of Tributes at the Harbour Point Event Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, at 2pm.
The statement further detailed that there will be a Special Court Session in Anambra State at the High Court premises, Onitsha in the morning of February 29, 2024. The session will be conducted by the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Onochie M. Anyachebelu. Lawyers in the Southeast are expected to pay their last respects at the court session.
Immediately after the Special Court Session, the mortal remains of the eminent jurist will be interred at his country home in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Then, Friday, March 1, 2024 has been scheduled as the day for national tributes and celebration of the impactful and very worthy life and times of Akunnia Benjamin Obiefuna Nwabueze, the Oduah Afo-na-Isagba of Atani. The ceremony will commence at 12 noon at his ancestral town of Atani.
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Thereafter, the funeral train will move back to Lagos, where the group of eminent national leaders popularly known as The Patriots will hold a National Colloquium/Dialogue at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday, March 18, 2024. The colloquium is scheduled to commence at 11am.
The colloquium with the theme, “Legitimate and lawful procedure of actualizing a people’s Constitution for Nigeria,” will be discussed by Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN; Chief Solomon Asemota, SAN; Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Prof Ibrahim Jibrin; Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed; Dr. Tunji Abayomi and Barrister Ayisha Osori.
The session will be moderated by Prof Anthony Kila who will also act the role of rapporteur with Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo.
Prof Nwabueze, CON, who at the time of his passing was the most senior lawyer in Nigeria with a scholarly output that included over 34 books, 100 conference keynotes, and 200 peer-reviewed and scientific articles, and probably also the most prolific and influential legal scholar out of Africa, was the Chairman of The Patriots.
The National Burial Committee said in the statement that The Patriots deliberately settled for March 18 for the colloquium to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 2014 Nigerian National Conference, which was inaugurated on March 17, 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Until his death, Prof Nwabueze championed the cause of restructuring, which he believed was the only pathway to an egalitarian and prosperous nation.
In his last major interview, Prof Nwabueze told TheNiche newspaper in March 2017: “Nigeria, I am sure will be a viable project, if we embrace restructuring. Nigeria cannot be a viable project as it is presently constituted. If it is restructured and we have a change in attitude to leadership, to governance, this country can be a very good project.”
The statement which was signed by Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, Secretary of the National Burial Committee, further said: “The historic National Colloquium being organised in honour of Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN, a foremost champion of the 2014 National Confab, will be chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku GCON, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Chairman of The Patriots.
“Expected at the various events of the obsequies announced above are delegations and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, former Presidents and Vice Presidents of Nigeria, serving and former State Governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly.
“Others include present and former members of State Houses of Assembly, envoys of foreign missions in Nigeria, leaders of socio-cultural and political groups, members of the Bench and the Bar, close associates and friends of the late eminent jurist.”