The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has described its late President-General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as one of the most outstanding Igbo leaders.
This is contained in a statement by the Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, on Thursday in Enugu.
Ogbonnia said it was with a deep shock and sorrow that the group received the sad news of the passing of one of the most outstanding Igbo Leader, Iwuanyanwu.
According to him, the sad news was broken by Iwuanyanwu’s son, Mr. Jude Iwuanyanwu, who said that his father died on July 25 after a brief illness at the age of 82.
He said Iwuanyanwu assumed office as the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on April 30, 2023, adding that he was the ninth leader of the Igbo group since its inception in 1976.
“Evidently, each leader or President General has one remarkable or distinctive characteristic for which he is often remembered.
“While other past leaders had limited their perspectives on Nigerian contemporary issues, Ahaejiagamba as Iwuanyanwu was fondly called introduced strategic and visionary dimension to the modus operandi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“In the first place, he had a towering personality with an impressive record as one of the most successful business men in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the late Igbo leader deployed his prodigious intellect, political, administrative and political acumen, vast knowledge and invaluable contacts in the selfless service of Ndigbo.
The publicity secretary said the transformative leader lifted Ohanaeze Ndigbo far from its familiar habitat and provenance to an enviable pedestal.
“As members of the NEC, we were always amazed by the brilliant initiatives, elephantine memory, oratory, including the frequency with which the Igbo Leader enunciated robust ideas.
“Looking back, Ndigbo all over the world were delighted that a jinx-breaker, business icon, moral edifice, mobilizer and harmonizer Iwuanyanwu, was at the helm of affairs as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
“It is therefore very painful that Chief Iwuanyanwu has passed on with all the ideas that were at his disposal,” Ogbonnia said.
The publicity secretary described a sad denouement for the Igbo that both Prof. George Obiozor and Iwuanyanwu died in office.
“We are also worried at the rate we are losing the brightest of the brightest among the Igbo in a close sequence at a time their wise counsels are mostly needed.
“It was Prof. Ben Nwabueze, and later, His Majesty, Igwe Chike Edozien, Dr Sylvester Ebiwei, Prof. Joe Irukwu, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, amongst others,” he decried.
He said that Iwuanyanwu was a philanthropist par excellence, focused creative thinker, brave soldier, accomplished engineer, astute business mogul, industrialist and a sagacious politician, and the former highest employer of labour at least in the entire East of the Niger.
“His trajectory was an admonition to the present day selfish and mundane leaders who perceived legacy as leaving enormous wealth behind for one’s offsprings; rather, it was about laying invaluable foundation among the populace, especially for younger generations.
“While we send a heartfelt condolence to the amiable wife, the Children, the people of Umuohiri Attah community and the Imo State government, we ask the Almighty to grant the soul of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, an eternal rest in his bosom,” he prayed.
His death devastating -Peter Obi
Former Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has reacted to the death of the President General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, describing it as “devastating”.
Obi, who reacted to the death in his X handle on Thursday, disclosed that he was greatly disheartened by the death of the elder statesman.
According to him, the devastating report of his death has left all who knew him heartbroken.
“When I visited him a few weeks ago, he promised me that he would soon be alright to continue with his contributions to the progress of the nation.
“Since then, I continued to pray for his quick and full recovery, untill I received the sad news of his death.
“I sincerely condole with his immediate family, the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide and entire nation over the death of this revered patriarch.
”May God grant us all the fortitude to bear his sad loss and grant him eternal rest,” he prayed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the renowned Igbo leader and politician died on Thursday morning, following a brief illness, family sources have said.
A great Iroko has fallen -Gov. Mbah
Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has expressed grief over the death of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
“A great iroko has fallen,” Mbah said in Enugu on Thursday.
He described Iwuanyanwu’s death as an incalculable loss to Ndigbo and Nigeria in general.
The governor said Iwuanyanwu was unapologetically Igbo, yet a consummate nationalist and quintessential statesman.
He said that the pan-Nigerian gave his all in service to the nation and to the Igbo race.
“I received with a deep sense of grief the shocking news of the demise of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, an icon, pan Nigerian, national colossus, and an absolute patriot, who gave his all for the peace and progress of Ndigbo and Nigeria.
“Ahaejiagamba, as he was popularly known, took up the mantle of leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo at a very difficult time, and acquitted himself most creditably as a courageous leader, whose vision was to chart a new roadmap for Igbo renaissance in the Nigerian commonwealth.
“He was an erudite scholar, researcher, media entrepreneur, sports enthusiast and financier, business mogul with interest in many critical sectors of the nation’s economy, and indeed a philanthropist,” Mbah said.
He said that in politics, the Igbo leader was no less remarkable as his views were candid and unpretentious, but never divisive.
“Indeed, Chief Iwuanyanwu, a pan Africanist, would be missed by not only Ndigbo and Nigeria, but Africa as a whole.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Enugu State, I offer my condolences to his family and pray that God comforts and grants them as well as the Government and people of Imo State, Ndigbo, and the nation the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“Rest in peace, Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo,” he prayed.
A great loss to the country -Buhari
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has described the passing of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President-General of the Ohanaeze Igbo, as a great loss to the country.
Buhari, in a condolence message by his media aide,, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Thursday ,said that the late Igbo leader left indelible memories.
The former Nigerian leader highlighted Iwuanyanwu’s contributions to journalism, sports, politics and nation-building.
“He was a visionary who revolutionized the nation’s media and sports. He made notable strides in the media industry, construction, sports, business, and politics.
“I had several opportunities to interact with him to know about his passionate commitment to the unity, peaceful coexistence, and the development of Nigeria.
“His rich contributions have left indelible memories on the media, sports, politics, and business, where he made extraordinary achievements.
“My condolences to his family, friends and associates and the entire people of the South-East. His death is a loss to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Buhari said.
NAN reports that Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday in Abuja, aged 82 ,after a brief illness.
Monumental loss -Gov. Soludo
Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on Thursday expressed sadness over the death of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
In a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Christian Aburime, Soludo described Iwuanyanwu’s death as a monumental loss not only to his immediate family and the Igbo nation but to Nigeria as a whole.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday at the age of 82 after a brief illness.
The governor said that Iwuanyanwu’s contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria were immeasurable.
According to the governor, as the publisher of the Champion Newspapers and owner of several other businesses, Iwuanyanwu’s entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropic endeavours left an enduring legacy in the country.
Soludo said Chief Iwuanyanwu was a distinguished elder statesman, notable patriot, renowned businessman, a personal mentor and a great supporter.
“He was an influential figure whose life and wise counsel were a tribute to exceptional leadership, patriotism and steadfast dedication to the progress of the Igbo nation and Nigeria as a country.
“As the 11th President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, he provided exemplary leadership, fostering unity, and championing the interests of Ndigbo, even while building bridges of peace across Nigeria,”he said.
The governor extended his condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and associates of Chief Iwuanyanwu, Ndigbo and the nation.
He prayed that his soul rest in peace as God grants the family the fortitude to bear the great loss. (NAN)
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