Patrick Naagbanton for Burial, November 23

 Nov 16 , 2019.

PRESS STATEMENT

‘‘You Shall Hear Me No More’’    Patrick B. Naagbanton (2014)

PATRICK NAAGBANTON FOR BURIAL, NOVEMBER 23

Port Harcourt based foremost NGO, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, in conjunction with the Naleeba Naagbanton family of Bodo City in Gokana LGA of Rivers State, and the Patrick Naagbanton Memorial Platform wish to announce the funeral arrangements of the departed hero of Niger Delta and pro-democracy struggles, Comrade Patrick Barigbalo Naagbanton.

Funeral rites

Thursday, 21 November 2019: symbolic tree planting campaign in his hometown Bodo City
This exercise is scheduled to start by 10 am in honour of Patrick’s commitment towards the protection of the environment, all through his lifetime.

Friday, 22 November 2019:

An Evening of Poetry and Tributes organized in his honour by the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation.
Venue: Visa Karena Hotel, Wonodi Street, off Olu Obasonjo road, GRA 111, Port Harcourt.

The event will be chaired/moderated by an American Professor of Political Science, environmentalist and researcher, Scott Pegg.

Saturday, 23 November 2019:

7:30am: body leaves Ashes to Ashes Mortuary, BMH, Port Harcourt to Bodo City
10am: Burial ceremony at St Patrick’s Catholic Church Field, Bodo City.
12noon: Interment at his compound, Bodo City

Patrick B. Naagbanton, founder and pioneer coordinator of CEHRD, was a committed human and environmental rights defender, poet, author, humanist, Marxist, and a rare fearless investigative journalist and small arms researcher. He lived a life of honesty, accountability, transparency, selflessness, commitment and extraordinary courage.

A reckless taxi driver knocked Patrick down on Friday, 13 September 2019 along the Rukpakurisi-Eliozu section of the East-West road of Port Harcourt. He spent 9 days in coma in a private hospital in Port Harcourt and passed on, Saturday, 21 September 2019 at the age of 49.

Patrick was the only child of his mother. His aged mother, his wife Avary, 4 children, and numerous other relatives, friends and colleagues survive him.

Many environmental and human rights activists, social justice crusaders, researchers, community development activists and pro-democracy campaigners across Nigeria and beyond will storm Bodo City to pay Patrick deserving last respect.
May his giant and brave soul rest in perfect peace!

Signed

Styvn Obodoekwe
Program Director
CEHRD