Meni Jonathan would be laid to rest on December 7th

 

The remains of Meni, the younger brother of President Goodluck Jonathan will be interred on December 7, the Esosi family has said

The Esosi is one of the family lines in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where the President comes from.

Our correspondent gathered that the younger Jonathan, who passed away at the National Hospital, Abuja on Tuesday, the day the President marked his 55th birthday, battled with liver-related problem before his death.

Head of the family, Chief Nitabai Inegite, spoke to our correspondent after a family meeting that ended about 6.30pm in Otuoke.

He said, “Meni was a Christian before he died and he will be buried 18 days within the time of his death according to Christian rites and we the family members have arranged that he be buried on December 7.”

Describing the deceased as a gentleman, Inegite said Meni, who died at 45, graduated from the University of Port Harcourt.

He confirmed that Meni was battling with liver-related problems before the President took him to Abuja for diagnosis and treatment.

Meanwhile, the Action Congress of Nigeria, the government of Enugu State and former Governor of Abia State, Uzor Kalu, have condoled with the President on the death of his brother.

The ACN in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said it was shocked and saddened by Meni’s untimely death.

The party said, “The death of any young and promising person is always a loss not only to his or her family but also to the country, which needs all the energy and creativity of its youths to achieve its potential.”

We commiserate with President Jonathan and his entire family on their painful loss.”

Acting Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi described the development as painful and regrettable.

Kalu, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Emeka Obasi, said the loss of a promising Nigerian should be of concern to everyone as Meni died in his prime.

He expressed shock and sadness over the death.