By Vincent Ujumadu
Awka- THE Azikiwe family of Onitsha has formally announced the death of Chief Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe, the first son of the first president of Nigeria, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who died on Sunday at the Charles Borommew Hospital, Onitsha.

Head of the Azikiwe family, Nwamulunanma Azikiwe, who spoke through Akunne Arah Azikiwe told reporters at Inosi Onira residence of the Owelle that with the announcement, burial arrangements would begin in earnest.

* Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe

The two –paragraph announcement released by the family read: “On behalf of the Azikiwe family, we announce the death of the Owelle of Onitsha, Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe, who died in the early hours of Sunday, 10th of May, 2015.

“Burial arrangements will begin later.”

At Owelle’s residence Tuesday, a condolence register had been opened and many people were trickling into the compound to sign the register.

Among the callers yesterday was the special adviser to the Rivers State governor on statistics and strategic planning and an in-law to the Azikiwes, Mr. Okey Okiri, who regretted that he was unable to deliver a message the late Owelle gave him for the Governor Rotimi Amechi before his death.

Okiri said: “I got the devastating news about the death of the Owelle yesterday (Monday) and was shocked. The late Owelle meant so much to me and I will greatly miss him.

“I spoke with him on Wednesday last week during which he told me that he was sick and I advised him to go to hospital for treatment. He sounded so healthy and I did not know that it was the last time I would speak with him.”

The entire Inosi Onira compound facing the famous Zik’s roundabout was still desolate yesterday, except the few family members from the Onitsha Inland Town who visited on hearing about the demise of the Owelle.

Few workers of the construction company working on the Zik’s Mausoleum, where work stopped since April, 2014 due to non- payment of work done,were also there, although they appeared not to be aware that Owelle Chukwuma Azikiwe was dead.