Renowned political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi has described the late Ohaeneze Ndigbo President-General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as a “remarkable bridge builder”.
Utomi, in a statement this morning (Saturday, July 27) in Lagos, said the death of Iwuanyanwu is a great loss to his community, the Igbo nation and Nigeria, stating that the late Iwuanyanwu was an active citizen, who bestrode several areas of human endeavour like a colossus.
“Our paths crossed repeatedly as businessmen, Alumni of the University of Nigeria and in the public sphere,” Utomi disclosed.
“He was a remarkable bridge builder, who frequently found a path to consensus when issues widened the crack in politics.
“When Ohanaeze PG, Prof George Obiozor passed on, Dr Tim Menakanya, former Health Minister called Chief John Nnia Nwodo and I, to remind us that we were the youngest at the table when Ohaneze was founded in the early 1980s, and we had a duty to ensure the boat stayed steady.
“We did the needful to ensure a transition through an Iwuanyanwu presidency of Ohaneze.
“I therefore had a ringside seat in observing the long impactful play of the astute engineer in public life. May his soul rest in peace,” Utomi said. (NAN)
