Wife of the late billionaire and philanthropist, Chief O. B Lulu-Briggs, says the intervention of the Rivers State Governor in ensuring that her late husband is buried is a welcome development.
Seinye Lulu-Briggs, in a letter to the governor on Thursday, also apologised to him over an alleged insult from members of the Lulu-Briggs family.
Chief Lulu-Briggs who died on December 27th 2018 is yet to be buried over protracted family crisis on who should takeover his estate.
While addressing leaders and People of Kalabari Ethnic Nationality on Wednesday at the Government House Port Harcourt, Wike said that the Rivers State Government is still interested in according the late philanthropist the respect he deserves.
“I even told them to let the Rivers State Government be responsible for the burial.
“Let the State Government take the corpse. Government will hold the corpse and give him a befitting burial. All I want is peace. ”
He berated the people who have allowed monetary consideration to influence their direction on the late monarch.
“If Dumo calls you for a meeting, you will go, if the woman calls you for a meeting, you will go. What kind of system is this? Nobody will say the truth because of money and how much is the money?
“How can such a man not be buried for one year. Not that they are looking for money to bury the man”, he asked.
The Governor called on the Kalabari leaders to set aside their differences and intervene to ensure that Chief O. B. Lulu Briggs is buried.
He said: “How can a prominent son of Kalabari Land stay in the mortuary for one year and we are all here. Nobody can speak the truth.
“They have divided themselves. You collect money here , you collect money there and you cannot speak the truth.
“I have intervened more than three to four times. Having meetings, but was disappointed by the wife. I have to say clearly to all of you, I have never received insult like that in my life.”
He stated that he told Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs and the widow of the late Philanthropist to allow the love they have for Chief O.B Lulu Briggs influence them into allowing him to be buried.
He said the feuding parties should allow High Chief O.B Lulu Briggs to be buried, after the burial they can continue the struggle for his property.
“Let the man be buried. Anyone who is dragging property can go and drag for the property. How can such a man not be buried for one year? ” he said.
Governor Wike appealed to the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Bob-Manuel and other leaders of the area to directly intervene to resolve the matter.
But Seinye Lulu-Briggs said the family is still open to his intervention, adding that legal battles over the death of Chief Lulu-Briggs cannot stop his burial.
Read full letter
RE: RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT OFFERS TO BURY LATE HIGH CHIEF O. B. LULU-BRIGGS
I read with gratitude the press statement issued by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
I appreciate the public confirmation of the offer made by the governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Wike to provide our beloved husband and patriarch, High Chief Dr. O.B. Lulu-Briggs, OON, DCF, DSSRS, a State burial.
I also note and welcome His Excellency’s call on Kalabari leaders to join hands to ensure the burial of our patriarch as soon as it can be arranged, following the unnecessary almost yearlong delay.
I publicly acknowledge with the deepest gratitude efforts made by Governor Wike and our Royal Father, His Serene Majesty Professor T.J.T Princewill, Amachree XI, the Amayanabo of Kalabari Kingdom as well as other respected friends of the late High Chief to resolve the needless differences within our family.
I was taken aback by the statement attributed to His Excellency, in the same press release, that I insulted him in the course of his gracious interventions. To the best of my knowledge the last meeting with the Governor along with my son Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs on the 20th of September 2019 ended without rancor and with a resolution for each party to send settlement proposals to the Governor through the Attorney General of Rivers State, which was complied with.
However, if during any of our interactions my esteemed Governor felt insulted, I hereby tender my sincere apologies.
In addition, in case His Excellency has not had the opportunity to read the last letter I sent to him over his intervention, I have decided to publish it here. I hope he will see for himself that the entire O.B. Lulu-Briggs family and I unreservedly hold him in nothing but the highest regards.
My focus since this crisis emerged has been and remains to secure a burial date and accord my beloved husband, our patriarch, High Chief Dr. O.B. Lulu-Briggs the distinguished and honorable funeral he deserves as soon as possible, since no lawsuit anywhere in the world prohibits his funeral.
I remain open to any plan to make this happen.
Signed:
Dr. Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs
For the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Family
