Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, has vowed that not a kobo belonging to the state would be spent on the funeral of his mother, Deaconess Margaret Umahi. He made the vow at an inter-denominational praise and worship service in honour of his late mother held in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Sunday night. Umahi said the remains of his mother, who died at age 84, would be buried in March 2016.

The governor, who has been receiving sympathisers, political associates, friends and well-wishers at his Uburu country home since Saturday, 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’s 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.”

Among those who have been to Uburu to condole Governor Umahi are 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.

Others include 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, the Nigeria Union of Journalists Correspondents Chapel led by Jacob Ogodo and the zonal secretary, Mr. Kenneth Ofoma.

•Photo shows Governor Umahi.