Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, will be buried on Friday, July 28.
Ogbulafor who died last October in Canada, at the age of 73 after a prolonged ailment will be buried in his country home, Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.
According to a statement by the Chairman of the Burial Committee, Prince Okechukwu Nwadinobi, Day of Tribute will be held in his honour Tuesday July 25, at the Michael Okpara Auditorium Umuahia by 1:00pm.
Dignitaries from across political parties in the country are expected to grace the event.
“Abians are expected in large numbers to honour a man who contributed immensely towards the development of our dear State and Nigeria politically and economically,” the statement said.
“Accordingly, Retired Honourable Justice Obisike Oji and Chief Okey Amechi (SAN), former Attorney General of Abia State, enjoin Abians to troop out en masse to honour Prince Ogbulafor on the tribute and burial days,” it further read.
Prince Ogbulafor who hailed from the famous Ogbulafor dynasty in Olokoro Umuahia, was PDP’s former National Secretary, before emerging the party’s National Chairman in 2007 during the glory days of the Big Umbrella.
He was born on May 24, 1949.
Prince Ogbulafor who was once quoted as boasting that the PDP would rule for 60 years in Nigeria, was reportedly forced to resign his position after he fell out with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Political analysts believe that his opinion that the North should be allowed to complete its turn of eight years in power after the death of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua, before power rotation to the South, was his sin against some PDP leaders then.
His was, however, vindicated as the North united against the then President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid in 2015, and almost wanted not to relinquish power in 2023 even after holding sway for eight years.