Ohanaeze skips Igbo Day, opens condolence register for Iwuanyanwu

The National Executive Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has opened a condolence register in honour of its late President, General, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

Iwuanyanwu, who passed away at the age of 82, served as the 11th President-General from April 30, 2023, following the death of his predecessor, George Obiozor, in December 2022.

The NEC held an emergency meeting at the organisation’s national secretariat in Enugu, where Secretary General Okey Emuchay expressed sadness over Iwuanyanwu’s passing, noting that it occurred less than two years after the organisation lost Obiozor.

Iwuanyanwu’s son, Jide, had confirmed his father’s death in a statement on July 25, stating that he died in Abuja after a brief illness.

While describing Iwuanyanwu as a rare human being, who had wonderful ideas and visions for the Igbo nation and Nigeria, Emuchay explained that a central burial committee would be established very soon.

“All activities, especially, the Igbo Day Celebration of 2024 scheduled to be held on the 29th of September 2024 in Imo State, will be skipped in respect and honour of the departed President General,” he said.

Speaking further, he said, “We want to assure that the ship of Ohanaeze is in safe hands, collectively as NEC, we want to give assurance that we shall match on from where he stopped.”

He urged all state Secretariats of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the chapters in Nigeria and the diaspora to open condolence books so that people could come and write and convey whatever thoughts and prayers they have for the departed President General.