Enugu — Former Governor of old Anambra State, Christian Chukwuma Onoh, was laid to rest in the Christian way on Friday at his hometown, Enugu Ngwo community.

Thousands from all walks of life, defied the heavy downpour in the early hours of the day to witness the burial of the late elder statesman, who died on May 5 after a protracted illness.

The remains of Onoh, contained in a brown mahogany casket, were laid to mother earth around 5.15 p.m. inside his father's compound.

Anglican Bishop of Enugu North Diocese, Sosthenes Eze, presided over the final interment ceremony at the graveside, which was witnessed by members of the Onoh family, close relatives and few friends.

But the release of N13 million by the Enugu State Government for the burial almost marred the whole event.

It was gathered that but for last minute efforts by members of the family, the burial would have been bungled, as various sub-committees operated on a highly slashed budget, due to paucity of funds.

For instance, it was gathered that the said total sum of N13 million released was not even enough for the initial N15 million budget made by the publicity committee, which had the mandate to give wide publicity to the burial.

The burial programme commenced on Thursday afternoon at Government House, Enugu with a 'low key' commendation service for Onoh.

The burial rites started on a dramatic note, with the sudden change of venue for the final commendation service by the burial committee set up by the state government, from Colliery Comprehensive College to St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral, Ngwo.

It was learnt that the newly ordained Archbishop of the Enugu Anglican Province, Amos Madu, who was to deliver the sermon, had threatened to pull out of the service if it was to hold outside the cathedral, which Onoh was devoted to during his lifetime.

The service, which commenced around 3 p.m. at the cathedral, had many dignitaries in attendance, including Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime; former Anambra State Governor, Chris Ngige; former Enugu State Governor, Okwy Nwodo, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Nnia Nwodo; Minister of State, Agriculture and Water Resources, Fidelia Njeze; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

In his sermon, Madu enjoined all Igbo to show love to each other irrespective of religious leanings, saying, "Igbo should not eat bread as if there is bone in it."

"Onoh's death helped to reconcile Ndigbo. It will remain like that. What is the problem? Why should we struggle all the time? We should sleep and wake up and make peace with each other," Madu said.

The cleric lampooned political officeholders, especially governors who are campaigning for another tenure, when they still have two years in office, saying they should wait for the time for campaign to come.

"Some people in government don't remember the people they govern. Democracy here is government of the people by the party and for the party. Most people who are representing us don't know God. We want God-fearing people to represent us.

"Nigeria is in trouble because of lack of the fear of God. Our schools are now terrible. We are now sending our children to Ghana. One chap wanted to expose the fraud in the power sector, I think that they are now after him," Madu said.

He called on everybody to turn a new leaf and become born again, stressing that heaven is for all those who do good, while the sinners are bound to face eternal condemnation in hell fire, which he insisted is real.

"Onoh is dead but his spirit is still alive. People should always remember that there is something like death," Madu stated.

A special court session was held for Onoh very early in the day at the State Judiciary Complex, Independence Layout, Enugu.

Our sources disclosed that efforts by members of Onoh's family to get the State Government release more funds for the burial, turned out into a 'rat race' between them and top officials, leaving the burial committee helpless.

Second son of the late elder statesman, Josef Onoh confirmed our findings, and blamed the difficulties faced by the family and the burial committee on what he described as "infantile style of politics of Governor Sullivan Chime."

Josef told Saturday Independent that the State Government kept telling the committee to come today and come tomorrow, just as he said that the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo deserves the bulk of the blame for bungling everything.

"The whole thing turned out this way because of the infantile style of politics of the governor. He should have shown remorse, but he didn't. He kept telling the committee to come today and to come tomorrow. He committed everything to the chief of staff. The bulk of everything was left to her and she bungled everything.

"But we are not bothered. My brother and I have decided to do things ourselves and we are going ahead. Our father's burial is going on whether the governor is interested or not. I assure you, we have the wherewithal to bury our father," the younger Onoh stated.

A close associate of the family said that their anger must probably have stemmed from the fact that people who could have helped them bury their father, backed off immediately Chime announced that it was going to be a state burial.

The source stressed: "How could he have brought N13 million for a state burial for a person of Onoh's calibre? That is too paltry compared to what they spend in political rallies and traditional marriages and other social and political gatherings."

Saturday Independent tried to speak with Chairman of the Central Working Committee of the Burial, and former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo but our effort was to no avail.

But a member of the committee, who pleaded anonymity, told this newspaper that paucity of funds almost marred the burial but for the last minute intervention of the family that sourced funds from other sources.