By Tijani Ademola
Nigerians from all walks of life have expressed sadness at the passing of the President-General of Ohahaeze Ndigbo, even as they have also commiserated with his family, the people of Owerri his hometown, Imo State and Ndigbo in general, over the late business mogul’s shocking death early this morning at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.
In his reaction to the news, legal heavyweight and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ahamba, described it as a “very sad development in Igbo land and Nigeria as a whole.”
“He was a good man who answered his calls any time; Ndigbo will truly miss him. May God give his family fortitude to bear his loss,” Ahamba, a former personal lawyer to former President Muhammadu Buhari said.
For his part, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) founder and current leader and founder of the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), said it would be difficult to fill the vacuum left by Iwuanyanwu.
“It’s a disheartening day in Igbo land,” Uwaruruike cried. “This is so bad; this is the second time a President General is dying in office in Igbo land. This vacuum will be too big for any other person to fill. I’m speechless now; my prayer goes to his family as they bear this great loss.”
Similarly, former Military Administrator of Delta State, Luke Ochulor (rtd) who also deputised Iwuanyawu as the Chairman of Owerri Peoples Club, said Ndigbo have lost their last “pointman”.
“I don’t know how to describe his death but Ndigbo have lost their pointman; it will be difficult to replace him. I pray for the family, Imo, the entire Igbo land to bear his loss,” Ochulor said.
In its own reaction, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL), the umbrella body of all the youth groups in Nigeria, condoled with with the family of the late Ohanaeze PG.
In a statement issued this evening, National President of CONYL, Goodluck Ibem and Secretary, Junaid Abubakar described the news of Iwuanyanwu’s death as devastating, painful and a big loss to Ndigbo and the world at large.
“Chief Iwuanyawu was a great philanthropist, an Engineer of great repute, an enigma of sort, a trailblazer, a problem solver, a goal getter and a man with an overflowing zeal to be a blessing to his people and his generation,” the statement by
CONYL read, in part.
“We are really sad that we lost him at a time when his positive contribution to national growth and development is greatly needed. His departure has left a big vacuum in our political journey as a people and a nation.
“We commiserate with the immediate family, the good people of Imo state, Ndigbo all over the world and Nigerians in general over this great loss.
“We pray that God Almighty will give the family and his loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable great loss.
MASSOB reacts…
Saying that Ndigbo will miss Iwuanyanwu’s
“fatherly commitment”, leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Uchenna Madu, in a statement, described the late Iwuanyanwu as “a devout and dedicated Igbo leader” whose “fatherly efforts and commitment to the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu shall never be in vain.”
“MASSOB and the people of Biafra mourn a gallant Biafran hero,” Madu declared.
In a similar vein, National Chairman of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Belusochukwu Enwere, described the late Ohanaeze Ndigbo PG as a rallying point of unity in Nigeria.
“He was a father to Ndi-Igbo, mentor and a rallying point of unity. His counsel and guidance was second to none. He was truly a man of honour with good and exemplary patriotic qualities. We have lost a father and a big influence in Nigeria,” Enwere said, adding that the late Iwuanywu was a stabilising influence in Igbo land and Nigeria at large.
