How the burial of Louisa Ada Duru turned into a carnival.
3 min read
For a passerby who never knew what was happening, his conclusion would certainly be that a great carnival or community day celebration was going on at State Primary School Umuele yesterday being Friday 5 April 2024. The decorations, the heavy presence of highly exotic cars, high profile individuals and Imo based politicians and a cross section of men and women of substance who flew in both from the United States and UK were at the burial ceremony of Lady Louisa Ada Duru to follow the events and pay their last respect to the woman of substance.
There were two live bands and other traditional dances and some entertainers who did their best to add colour to the event. At the VIP canopies, the presence of high profile individuals, politicians, clergymen and royal fathers was highly conspicuous. Top among the politicians were Chief Chuma Nnaji, a former commissioner in the state, Hon Ozioma Worship, the Imo House of Assembly member representing Njaba LGA and a host of others.
Talking about organizations that were present, G-91, a group of old boys who read at High School Umuaka and graduated in the year 1991 with Dr Ikenna Duru was present. Umuaka Sports Council and several support groups of politicians were also present including faith based organizations and more.
As elegantly dressed people started to arrive at the State Primary School Umuele, the venue of the event, security operatives and bouncers were already at strategic positions watching the events and the people just to make sure that things went well. Akah Ebe Iri security organization, Obinwanne Vanguard, Amiyi Akah Security outfit and many others were also present during the event.
The highest point of the event was when the chief mourner, Dr Ikenna Duru arrived at the event. Duru who close confidents use to address as “Hon. Imperial High Chief, Amb., Dr. Sir Enyioha Ikenna Fortune Duru, the Akụnaepuome GburuGburu of Amazanọ Ancient Kingdom and Enyiọha Njaba GburuGburu,” arrived at the centre of the open field when all the canopies were already filled up with special guests. The moment he alighted from the vehicle, the Master of the Ceremony MC, took time to welcome him as he went round, from one canopy to another to exchange pleasantries with his guests. People cheered him up and described him as a man of the people as he acknowledged the greetings from them. It was like when a young president of a nation was visiting his home town.
The next segment of the event was when Dr Duru and his wife got seated in a special VIP tent which was prepared for them. It was there they sat to receive visitors and observed the blow by blow account of the event.
About 40 minutes later, royal fathers in both Njaba and Isu LGAs arrived the event as they were led by Eze Caesar Duruegbusuo of Umuele Amazano. The citing the royal fathers, the MC announced their presence and told the people to stand up to welcome them. They went straight to the special tent where the chief mourner Dr Ikenna Duru was sitting and exchanged greetings. They also passed a special message to him.
With total humility, Dr Duru welcomed them and made sure they were given a proper place to sit.
To mention the names of high profile personalities that attended the burial ceremony of Lady Ada Duru is to cause a conflict of some sort because some names would certainly be omitted in error. Umuaka Times gathered that the relations, business partners and friends of Dr Ikenna Duru came from across the country and from the diaspora to pay their last tribute to his mother, Lady Louisa Ada Duru.
