Owerri, the Imo state capital is beaming with personalities trooping into the ancient city for the burial ceremony of the former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Prof Celestine Onwuliri who died in the Dana ill-fated air crash.
Our roving Reporters say that nearly who is who in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP of Imo extraction are in the State for the burial that will take place tomorrow at Amuzi, in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area.
Imo Trumpeta was told that the vice President, Namadi Sambo will represent President Goodluck Jonathan at the burial ceremony while other neighbouring State Governors are also billed for the burial.
Meanwhile the likes of Dr Ikedi Ohakim, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Dr. kema Chikwe, Hon Emeka Ihedioha and others are already in town.
Imo Trumpeta investigations unveiled that nearly all Hotels in Owerri are fully booked with reservations for the prominent personalities.
It is learnt that PDP will turn the burial to a carnival with members given directive to attend the ceremony in their numbers.
Though the late professor was an academic, but his wife, Prof Viola Onwuliri was the running mate to the former Governor of Imo state, Dr Ikedi Ohakim of the PDP during the last election in the State.
Prof Viola Onwuliri is presently the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs and a top PDP member.
It would be recalled that Prof Onwuliri was among the 160 passengers who perished in the Dana Air crash at Ishaga, suburb of Lagos.
Onwuliri died while on Official assignment, working for Nigerian Universities Commission, Abuja.
The Mbaise born technocrat cum erudite scholar was among the few victims of the crash, whose bodies were found intact.
Following the impact of the crash which left body part scattered at the scene, many have described late Celestine Onwuliri as a saint and a good man, who would have survived the crash, had rescue mission arrived early before the aeroplane burst into flames.
“He is a saint; his body was found intact, with one hand clutching the Rosary. If rescue mission had arrived early, Prof would have been here today. But we know he is resting in the bosom of God” a source told Imo Trumpeta.
