The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) will hold a commendation service for the late literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe, on Sunday in Abuja.
The Primate of the Church, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday that the service would take place at the National Christian Centre.
Okoh said that members of the Achebe’s family had requested the service as a mark of honour for their father, who was of the Anglican faith.
The funeral of the elder statesman, who died at the age of 82, will hold on May 23 in his hometown, Ogidi, Anambra State.
Okoh said that the Church would not be drawn into the dispute on whether he should be buried according to Christian rites or traditional rites as a titled man in Igboland.
He said: “If the family wants the Church to bury him, then the Church will bury him. “But we do not bury the dead at night.”
The primate spoke in response to media reports that a section of his community insisted that he should be buried at night, according to the local culture and tradition.
The General Secretary of the Church, Ven. Michael Oluwarohunbi, told NAN that the programme or order of service was prepared using the Anglican liturgy.
Oluwarohunbi however said that the service was open to the public and Nigerians who cherished the life and works of the great literary icon.
He said: “The idea of holding the service in Abuja is to afford those who cannot attend the burial in Ogidi the opportunity to pay their last respect to him.
“His corpse will not be at the service.
“It is just a commendation service and Abuja was chosen by the family because of the cosmopolitan nature of the city.”
A copy of the programme showed that well known church hymns will mark Achebe’s commendation service.
These will include “For all the Saints”, “He is Risen” and “Forever with the Lord”.
The only Bible lesson for the service will be taken from John Chapter 11 and the Anglican Primate will preach at the service.
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