The Igbo nation was thrown into mourning yesterday following the death of president of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
In a release signed by his son, Jide Iwuanyanwu, the renowned industrialist, politician and elder statesman died at the age of 82 after a brief illness.
Iwuanyanwu, who hailed from Ikeduru council area of Imo State, is the founder of defunct Champion Group of Newspapers. Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club, now Heartland FC, was named after him because of his love for sports and his contribution to the club. He assumed office on April 30, 2023, as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide shortly after the Imeobi Ohanaeze ratified his nomination.
He contested for the presidency three times under the Nigeria National Congress, which later became the National Republican Convention, the All Peoples Party, and the United Nigeria Congress Party.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Iwuanyanwu family. In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu praised Iwuanyanwus remarkable legacy, saying he will always be remembered for his contributions.
Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, has expressed deep grief over the death of Iwuanyanwu, describing it as the fall of a great iroko and an incalculable loss to Ndigbo and Nigeria in general. Mbah said Iwuanyanwu was unapologetically Igbo, yet a consummate nationalist and quintessential statesman, who gave his all-in service to the nation and to the Igbo race.
Reacting, he said, I received with 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. His views were candid and unpretentious, but never divisive. His maturity shone brightly, as he often sought to build bridges.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo also mourned the demise of the president-general. In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Dr Chiedozie Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated it received the news of his death with shock.
Ogbonnia said: 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 introduced strategic and visionary dimension to the modus operandi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
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, harmonizer of diverse interests and an accomplished achiever in the person of Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel 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.
It is indeed a sad denouement for the Igbo that both Professor George Obiozor and Chief 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, His Majesty, Igwe Joseph Chike Edozien, Dr Sylvester Ebiwei, Professor Joe Irukwu, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, amongst others.
The Iwuanyanwu persona is a veritable and inspiring tribute to virtues of hard work, sincerity, heroism, sacrifice, ingenuity, philanthropy and mentorship to the people.
For instance, when his people needed his services most, he volunteered to serve as a Biafran soldier, rising to the rank of a Captain at a very young age.
Also, chairman of the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has described the death of Iwuanyanwu as a profound loss to the nation.
Abiodun said as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Iwuanyanwu worked tirelessly to preserve the unity of the country with his various, timely interventions at critical times when contentious issues were raging.
Reacting to Iwuanyanwus departure, Collins Steve Ugwu, Director of Publicity for the Igbo think tank, Aka Ikenga, said its culturally troubling and mentally numbing to immediately begin to discuss the passage of a sage leader and character, such that fell upon the shoulders of Iwuanyanwu to become and occupy in Igbo nationality. His various persona as a certified engineer of the highest pedigree, a daring indigenous contractor of eminent height, a politician of boundless ambitions, that eventually coalesced to the leader at the acme of Ndigbo Worldwide is a caveat for deep circumspection, before a rattle of discussions about him in cold past tense.
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