The Chairman of Mbaitoli Council of Traditional Rulers in Imo State, HRH Eze Emma St. George Eke, has described the late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as a great patriot of high repute.
According to Eze Eke, the late Igbo leader prioritized the unity, oneness, and corporate existence of the nation above all else.
Similarly, HRH Oliver Ohanwe, Chairman of Okigwe Zone Global Elders and Leaders Council, hailed the departed elder statesman as a quintessential humanitarian, a redoubtable politician, and a lover of humanity.
Both monarchs spoke to our correspondent in Owerri on Friday, urging Ohanaeze Ndigbo not to be deterred by the exit of the renowned promoter of Igbo unity and advocate for additional states in the South East.
Eze Eke who is the traditional ruler of Isi Ubom of Ubomiri said “I personally feel sad that God took him away at this time but as Christians, we cannot question God who gives and takes away life. He built and donated a blood bank to the Former General Hospital Owerri now Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri.
The monarch who recalled his intimacy with the departed business mogul, publisher, politician and public opinion moulder added that he was indeed a great man who accepted popular opinions on national issues and who placed the interest of the Igbo race, the nation and Africa above all other agitations.
Given the circumstances surrounding Ohaneze with the second death of the president, the monarch advised Ohaneze to consider age in appointing leadership of the body.
He said: “let Ohaneze creat a structure that would assist in lessening the preasure of leadership”.
In his reaction, Eze Ohanwe – a member of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and traditional ruler of Isiama Community, in Isiala Mbano Council Area of Imo State said that the Late Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader would be remembered for his exemplary human capacity building spirit, projection of national unity, peace corporate existence, safety of lives and properties of all Nigerians.
According to him, Chief Iwuanyanwu contributions were vital, especially in issues concerning nation building regretted that the vacuum created by his death would be difficult to fill.
Describing Iwuanyanwu as one Igbo man who is a Nigerian, he said that his death is a great loss to the entire people of Imo State, Igbos, the government and the Ohaneze in general.
