Ebonyi State Governor on Sunday night said the remains of his late mother; Deaconess Margaret Umahi would be buried in March 2016 and no kobo belonging to the state would be spent on the funeral.

The governor, who on Saturday received   sympathizers, political associates,   friends and well-wishers at his Uburu country home, said  the Umahi  family had met and was  ready to give their matriarch one of the best funerals ever to be witnessed  in the South-East.

Dave Umahi

He therefore advised all public officer holders, especially the Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen and Coordinators, desirous of giving him gifts not to use public funds.

The governor said, “I want to be quoted and I want it to be on record because of evil people. Mama will be given a befitting burial, but the State Government money will not go into it

“I will like to be quoted and I like it to be on record, if you give me a gift, make sure it is not government money. No instrument of the state will be deployed.

“The Lord has blessed the family with enough to eat. So, whatever a good mother will get, our mother will get. Local government chairmen and co-ordinators should take note. If you do otherwise, I will wash my hands off.”

On Saturday,  a former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim; members of of the  House of Representatives from  the state who were  led by Sylvester Ogbaga; some members of the state House of Assembly led by the speaker, Francis Nwifuru and  some members of the state Executive Council  were among those that paid a condolence visit to the governor.

Others were the 13 local government caretaker chairmen and 64 coordinators of development centers in  the  state; the leadership  of the Ishiagu Community  Development  Union  led by Chief Stanley Anyim; the state chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,  led by Chief Silas Okoro; the Nigeria Union of Journalists  correspondent chapel led by Jacob Ogodo and the Zonal Secretary, Mr. Kenneth Ofoma.

Expressing his condolence, the former Imo governor,   Chief Ohakim, described the late Deaconess Umahi as a fulfilled woman whose sojourn on earth  brought good tidings, peace,unity and progress  to the Umahi  family and Ebonyi state.

He said it was not in doubt  that  Deaconess Umahi lived a good life as it is evident on the life and personality of Governor  Umahi and the rest of her children.

Ohakim was in company with the Chairman,South -East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Cletus Ilomuanya; the  Secretary,Sir Sopuruchukwu Nwafor;   and  the Igwe of Umunya inAnambra  State, HRM Kris Onyekwuluje,   prayed God to give the  Umahi family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The former  Imo  State  governor who noted that   “Even  people  outside  knew that  Mrs Umahi was a very good woman, “  described   Governor Umahi as a “fantastic human being, one of the  pillars of  the  PDP and democracy,  an embodiment of love, hard work,  intellectualism and development.”

He told Governor Umahi that he was sure “that t God will not leave” him  alone.  Other groups  also  eulogised the virtues of the  late Deaconess Umahi.

Responding,  Governor Umahi said, he was humbled by the  testimonies being poured out on his mother.

He described his mother as a very kind woman, passionate, loving and a peace maker, who taught them how to forgive, and have faith in the Lord.

Umahi said, although his mother was 84, she looked 65  and was active, restive, and always fasted  and prayed  to seek the face of the God.

He said he took solace in the fact that his mother died  a saint.