By Johnson Nwankwo
Senator Ben Obi, chairman of the Central Burial Committee for the burial of the late president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has said only the central burial committee set up by the Southeast Governors’ Forum is authentic.
Obi stated this in Abuja during the inauguration of sub-committees and the Local Organizing Committees (LOC) at the Imo State Lodge, Asokoro, ahead of the burial.
The outcome of the meeting was contained in a release issued by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Alex Ogbonnia.
Senator Obi therefore advised other bodies planning to have committees for the burial to get across to the recognized committee to avoid any clash of interest.
Senator Obi said the late PG was “a global citizen and a nationalist whose contributions to national development are legendary”. He added that “Iwuanyanwu was a success story in diverse fields of human endeavours”.
He said, “Chief Iwuanyanwu served the Igbo at an elderly age with utmost passion, dedication and sincerity. There will be Days of Tributes for Chief Iwuanyanwu in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Owerri. The Service of Songs is slated for Tuesday, October 29, at Attah, Ikeduru LGA of Imo State, while the interment takes place in his country home, Attah, on November 1, 2024.”
The burial rites of Chief Iwuanyanwu, Obi said, showed that there would be more elaborate ceremonies in Enugu, including taking his corpse to the GRA headquarters of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Senator Obi expressed delight that eminent persons and groups had shown interests in giving a befitting farewell to the late Igbo leader. He however cautioned that the authentic burial committee for the funeral “is the one that was set up by the South East Governors’ Forum, led by Gov Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
He warned that, “To avoid clash of events and inappropriate channels, any other group that wants to organize any event with respect to the funeral rites of Chief Iwuanyanwu should contact the Central Burial Committee for clarifications.”
Our correspondent reports that the inauguration ceremony was witnessed by the former Governor of Anambra State, Sen Chris Ngige; the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and Secretary of the Burial Committee, Ambassador Okey Emuchay; Prince Garry Igariwey, former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide and Deputy Chairman of the Burial Planning Committee, Mr Jide Iwuanyanwu.
