By Johnson Nwankwo
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Thursday, said it received the news about the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, its president general, “with a deep shock and sorrow”.
This was contained in a release by the national publicity secretary of Ohanaeze, Dr Alex Ogbonnia. According to him, “Chief Iwuanyanwu is the most outstanding Igbo leader.”
People&Politics reported that Chief Iwuanyanwu passed on Thursday, July 25, 2024 after a brief illness at the age of 82. He assumed office as the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on April 30, 2023. He was the ninth leader of the Igbo group since its inception in 1976.
Ogbonnia said, “While other past leaders had limited their perspectives on Nigerian contemporary issues, Iwuanyanwu introduced strategic and visionary dimension to the modus operandi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He had a towering personality with an impressive record as one of the most successful business men in Nigeria.
“He deployed his political, administrative and invaluable contacts in the selfless service of Ndigbo. He lifted Ohanaeze Ndigbo far from its familiar habitat and provenance to an enviable pedestal.”
Ohanaeze hailed Chief Iwuanyanwu’s “brilliant initiatives, elephantine memory, oratory, including the frequency with which he enunciated robust ideas”.
The release said Ndigbo worldwide were delighted that Chief Iwuanyanwu was at the helm of affairs as the president general of Ohanaeze, adding that, “It is therefore very painful that Chief Iwuanyanwu has passed on with all the ideas that were at his disposal.”
The release added that, “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 gathered that Iwuanyanwu was the chairman of the Iwuanyanwu Foundation which offered scholarships to over ten thousand indigent students across the country. He donated to universities to create conducive environments for learning; built churches and other community facilities.
Ogbonnia stated that, “The Iwuanyanwu trajectory is an admonition to the present day selfish and mundane leaders who perceive legacy as leaving enormous wealth behind for one’s offspring; rather, it’s about laying invaluable foundation among the populace, especially for younger generations. Iwuanyanwu’s life mission transcended self; rather he was devoted to charity, humanity and service to God.”
