Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, has faulted claims by Labour and Productivity Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige, that the Federal Government has spent about N1bn on the burial of ex-Vice President Alex Ekwueme, who died November 19, 2017.
According to Punch Metro, the archbishop made the observation during a commendation service for the late elder statesman in Enugu on Monday.
Ngige had claimed that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has spent N1bn since taking over the former vice president’s medical bills while he was sick, and even after his death.
The archbishop described the Federal Government’s claims as “unacceptable.”
He said the Federal Government should explain “what, where and how” the N1bn was spent.
Chukwuma noted, “Ekwueme, being a man of accountability, the Federal Government must give account on how the N1bn was spent.
“We are happy that the government is giving him a befitting burial, but one thing is that people should emulate the legacies he left behind.
“It is not good to say all sorts of things without emulating the legacies he left behind.”
The cleric further described Ekwueme as a ‘great politician’ who will never be forgotten in Nigeria’s history.
Before his death, Ekwueme worshiped in Chukwuma’s parish — the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Independent Layout, Enugu.