Stakeholders in Eziowelle community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State have protested against the high cost of burial in the area. They lamented that the high burial levy imposed by the town union leadership of the area had made them to leave the dead bodies of their loved ones in mortuaries for months because they could not afford to bury them. Some residents of the community, led by Chief Felix Okafor and Emeka Akukwe, articulated their grievances on Tuesday at a press conference in Awka, the state capital. Okafor said the leadership of the town imposed a burial levy of N1m on every bereaved family in the area before they could commence the funeral arrangements of their loved ones. “As a result of this, many families have abandoned their loved ones in the morgues for months because they are finding the costs too high. So, they have to leave them in hospital mortuary refrigerators until they can work out how to pay for the levy. “The same way if you have to start the foundation of your house in Eziowelle you will have to pay first a levy of N1m to the town union before you can start. Failure to do so, the town union leadership would mobilise thugs to attack you. This is the type of yoke we are passing through in Eziowelle community,” he said. Akukwe added it was because of the situation that he presented himself as a candidate in the June 30 town union election, hoping to stop the practices but alleged that the election was rigged against him. He said, “I am a geologist by training and a consultant in the field. Ordinarily I won’t have anything to do with a community town union election; but I had to come in because of the bondage my people are subjected to. “In that election, they used all manner of intrigues, intimidation and manipulation of the constitution to subvert the people’s wish and aspirations.” He called on the state Governor, Willie Obiano, to save the community from imminent crisis. Effort to get the President General of the community, Mr Titus Akudo, on the telephone for his reaction was not successful as his phone continually rang switched off. Culled from Punch]]>

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