The Ebonyi State Governor, Engineer Dave Umahi, on Sunday night said the remains of his late mother, Deaconess Margaret Umahi, would be buried in March 2016.

Umahi added at an inter-denominational praise and worship service in honour of his late mother that not a kobo belonging to the state would be spent on the funeral.

The governor, who had on Saturday on 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 burials ever to be witnessed in the South East.

He therefore advised all public officer holders, especially 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 one naira 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.
“So the local government chairmen and co-ordinators 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 on the governor.

Others were the13 local government caretaker chairmen and 64 coordinators of development centres 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; and the Nigeria Union of Journalists Correspondent Chapel, led by Jacob Ogodo and the Zonal Secretary, Kenneth Ofoma.

Expressing his condolence, 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, Ebonyi State and the entire Igbo race.
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 of the South East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Cletus Ilomuanya; the Secretary, Sir Sopuruchukwu Nwafor; and the Igwe of Umunya in Anambra State, HRM Kris Onyekwuluje.

He prayed God to give the Umahi family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The former Imo State governor noted: “Even people outside knew that Mrs. Umahi was a very good woman.”
He 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.