From Magnus Eze and Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has opened a condolence register for its late President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Aged 82, the Igbo leader died after a brief illness in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital last Thursday.
The NEC after an emergency meeting in Enugu, yesterday, assured that it will vigorously pursue and sustain the vision and programmes of the late Igbo leader.
Secretary General of the apex Igbo body, Okey Emuchay, who first signed the register, said the group and indeed Ndigbo were shattered by Iwuanyanwu’s demise.
He likened the death to the fall of a huge Iroko, lamenting that it came less than two years after they lost his predecessor, Professor George Obiozor, who passed at 80.
He acknowledged condolences from President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Governors of the South East States and the leaders of Southern and Middle Belt Forum including Chief Edwin Clark and Pa Ayo Adebanjo among others.
“Nigerians from all over the world have been calling to commiserate with us. So, our prayers are with his wife and children; His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Government and people of Imo State and all others who knew him. We are in touch with the family,” Emuchay said.
Disclosing that a central burial committee will soon be constituted, the Ohanaeze scribe said that this year’s the Igbo Day celebration scheduled to hold on September 29, with Imo State as host, will be shelved as mark of honour for the departed President General.
Continuing, Emuchqy said: “It is not easy for us, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo nation and Nigeria.
“Appropriate consultations began with our governors, with the structures of Ohanaeze and the elders and stakeholders of Ohanaeze and several other bodies and organizations that the PG was affiliated to.
“We want to assure that the ship of Ohanaeze is in safe hands. Nothing will happen to Ohanaeze. He had wonderful ideas and visions for the Igbo nation and for Nigeria. Collectively as NEC, we want to give assurance that we shall march on from where he stopped.
“In this respect, consultations also will start in earnest for us to have a meeting of Ime Obi; our governors, our leaders, our stakeholders. We’ve been here before, we overcame and we shall overcome. It’s not easy for us as I said before but we cannot question God. He has done his bit, he has gone to rest. He has passed on the baton , it is left for us to continue from where he stopped.
“I, therefore, have the honour and the privilege to sign this condolence register at the national secretariat.
“We are asking all state secretariats of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the chapters we have in Nigeria and in the diaspora to do the same. Open condolence books so that people could come and write and convey whatever thoughts and prayers they have for our departed President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”