President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has eulogized the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, saying he died in active service while fighting for the Igbo people and Nigerians at large.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief George Akume, at the funeral church service in honor of the late Igbo leader on Friday, President Tinubu commended the governors of the southeastern states for providing leadership in the zone.
He said, “I want to commend my governors of the zone for pulling resources together to celebrate a man who gave his life for humanity.”
He added that the name of Chief Iwuanyanwu will continue to be remembered by the Igbo people and all Nigerians.
Delivering a sermon at the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew, Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, the Archbishop and Primate of All Nigeria, the Most Rev. Dr. Henry Ndukuba, expressed concern over the sudden demise of Chief Dr. Emmanuel C. Iwuanyanwu and prayed for God to raise another patriotic leader like him for the Igbo people.
He urged the Igbo people to understand their position in Nigeria and to consider unity and togetherness as paramount and crucial to their existence.
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The Archbishop noted that personalities and dignitaries came together to celebrate the life and times of the late icon.
He encouraged the Igbo people to emulate the shining legacies of Chief Iwuanyanwu and prayed that God would raise a replacement who would not sell out the Igbo people.
According to him, “We need in our land a patriotic leader who will carry the Igbo people along like Chief Iwuanyanwu did.”
He continued, “We need a man of good character who will speak for the Igbo people boldly.”e
The Archbishop also noted that Chief Iwuanyanwu was a man of his people who stood out in the development of the Igbo people and the Nigerian nation.
The man of God noted that Chief Iwuanyanwu served the Igbo people meritoriously and also supported the church, both within and outside the Anglican Communion, pointing out that Chief Iwuanyanwu loved church music and had compiled selected hymns for devotion.
He said, “He had a love of service to humanity and was a national leader and a detribalized person,” recalling that in the short period he led Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, the organization experienced peace.
He also noted that Chief Iwuanyanwu consistently spoke against injustice and preached peace in the country, explaining, “We cannot be preaching peace in Nigeria while there is injustice all over the country.”
The Primate, therefore, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate a national dialogue to bring lasting peace to the country, pointing out that Nigerians are good people who must rise again.
He emphasized that God’s purpose in creating humanity is for people to serve God and humanity, adding that individuals will always be held accountable for their words and actions.
The event was a gathering of notable personalities from various fields of human endeavor.
