By Moses Okorie
The Burial Committee for the late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has announced a tentative burial arrangement for the late business mogul.
Chairman of the burial committee, Senator Ben Obi, stated this last week, when the executive of the Middle Belt Elders Council paid the family and the entire Ohanaeze Ndigbo a condolence visit in Abuja.
Obi said the burial arrangement would begin with a Day of Tribute in Lagos on October 15, another Day of Tribute in Abuja on October 18, and yet another one in Enugu on October 28.
He revealed that there would be a service of songs on October 29 and the burial proper would be done on November 1, 2024 at his country home in Imo State.
On their part, in a condolence message written by the chairman of the Middle Belt Elders Council, General Zamani Lekwot (rtd) and the secretary Elder Jonathan Tsaku, which was read by the deputy chairman, General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), the death of the Ohanaeze leader came to them with shock.
The condolence letter addressed to Mr. Jide Iwuanyanwu reads: “Your father and President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s death came to us with shock. We therefore join the family and well-wishers in mourning this heavy loss. May God who called him home to rest assuage our anguish.
“He was a great Nigerian whose contributions to humanity, the business world and the propensity for success in all he said and did will be deeply missed by all who knew him well. He was an exceptional individual who was known for his kindness, strength of character and unwavering dedication to his family and Ndigbo generally. His fine legacy will therefore continue to inspire and guide one and all for the good of our dear country.
“Consequently, his death at this time has left a huge void that will be difficult to fill. Then of course, while words can never fully express the depth of sorrow felt now, we thank God for his life of service, pray that He accepts him in His bosom with grace and grant the family and all of us the fortitude to bear the heavy loss with composure. May his gentle soul rest in peace”.
Speaking on behalf of the Ohanaeze family, Chief Simon Okeke, former chairman, Police Service Commission, apart from the immediate family, he would say he is the next serious mourner for Ohaejiejemba.
“We have come too close to each other in life, starting from the Biafran War period. I was forced by circumstances to take part in the Biafran War; I was a young graduate, I worked on the Intelligence of 11 Division of the Army and Iwuanyanwu worked as Army Engineer. So we related together during the war, and when the war ended, we both started up life together, despite the 20 Pounds scenario.
He said, “Iwuanyanwu was a man with a great heart; a lover of humanity, great philanthropist, and what I liked most about him was his simplicity, the human aspect of his life.
“For the one year he was President-General of Ohanaeze, he touched many lives even up to the last days, I followed him to see our son, Nnamdi Kalu, in detention, he was so worried about it, because of the effects of his detention in the security situation of the South east. It worried him so much and we discussed it at length.
“He even went to the UK and Canada, meeting our people and got them integrated. Even the US black citizens whose DNA revealed that they come from Igboland, he integrated them into the fold”.
Speaking to the delegations on behalf of the family, Mr. Jide Iwuanyanwu, appreciated his guests for coming to sympathise with them at their time of grief. He said his father was passionate for the success of Nigeria.