By Our Reporter
In what will go down as an unprecedented period of mourning, Cross River state will next week, lay to rest, three of its formers leaders who died in recent weeks.
85 year old former governor of old Cross River State, (which included present Akwa Ibom State), late Chief Donald Etiebet, will be buried on the 11th of December, according to a statement on Tuesday from the Akwa Ibom Government.
The statement recalled that Etiebet served as governor of the then Cross River from October 1, 1983 to December 31, 1983, when a military coup truncated the Second Republic.
The statement which was signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah said the deceased was a committed patriot, statesman, community leader and an invaluable asset to Akwa Ibom.
Second republic Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Mathias Offoboche who passed on last month in the United States, will also be buried on the 3rd of December, 2015 in his home town of Yala L.G.A. in Cross River State, according to a program released by the family.
His corpse is expected to arrive from USA on 30th November 2015. Dr. Offoboche was former Deputy Governor of erstwhile Cross River State (now Cross River & Akwa Ibom States), between 1979-1983 when Dr. Clement Isong was governor.
Another former Deputy Governor of the State, Mr. Walter Eneji who died peacefully in his sleep on November 4, will also be buried on the 5th of December according to a family source.
Eneji who was Deputy Governor to former Governor Donald Duke, died in his London home and the body is expected back home on the 1st of December, 2015.