All the necessary arrangements have been put in place for the burial of late African literary giant, Prof John Pepper Clark- Bekederemo before 12 midnight today at his Kiagbodo country home, in Burutu local government area of Delta state.
Chief Ebikeme Clark, who spoke to journalists on behalf of the Clark’s family said laying the remains of the late poet to rest today became sacrosanct as he had detailed the arrangement in the Will he left behind.
He said the eminent playwright had willed that his body be interred within three days of his passage at his Kiagbodo residence, near the Kiagbodo river.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that he is buried before 12 midnight today. We are expecting the body at the Asaba airport and from there it will come in a motorcade to our village. We want to meet his Will that he be buried within three days of his demise,” Ebikeme, the immediate former Chairman of Burutu local government area, Delta state, said.
According to him, the remains of J.P. Clark would arrive at the Asaba airport from Lagos, and be conveyed to Kiagbodo in a long motorcade.
He added that it will a private funeral with family members in attendance.
The New Diplomat had reported the literary giant and emeritus professor of English and Literature who is simply known among admirers, students, followers and many as J.P.Clark died Tuesday morning at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos, Nigeria after falling ill since last month. It marked the fall of the great Iroko of literature.
He reportedly gave up the ghost in the presence of his family members, and the emeritus Professor hung up the pen, and commenced the journey of paddling the canoe along the creeks in The Raft like Ibadan in running splash of rust and gold in a pattern that has seen the icon leave America, Their America. But unlike Abiku, the literary mogul has taken a blissful exit surrounded by family members.
