We are awaiting the announcement of the burial arrangements, in which we will take an active part, from the grieving family and the Imo government.
Following the passing of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, there have been rumors in some quarters that there is a leadership crisis inside the organization. Dr. Peter Mbam, the President of the Ebonyi State Chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo, has dismissed these rumors as unfounded.
Speaking to reporters in Abakaliki during the formal launch of a condolence book in memory of the late statesman, Dr. Mbam clarified that any rumors of a leadership dispute inside the group were untrue.
We are awaiting the announcement of the burial arrangements, in which we will take an active part, from the grieving family and the Imo government.
“It is after the burial that the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Imeobi (inner circle) of the association would meet and agree on how to find a replacement for him,” he said.
He described Iwuanyanwu as a colossus whose leadership qualities would be missed by the organisation and Igbos in general.
“He told us that the 2023 general was over and that we needed to support the winner of the 2023 general elections despite the fact that the Igbo man who contested did not win.
“When the hunger protest issue was mulled, he advised Igbo not to participate because they had been victims of such events in the past.
“We took the advice to our various states, our people listened to us and there were no protests in the Igbo states,” he said.
A Vice President General of the association, Chief Okeagu Ogeada, noted that the vacuum created by Iwuanyanwu demise would be difficult to fill, adding that he played critical roles in the development of Ebonyi and the people and the entire Igbo race would be indebted to him.
“The state’s founding fathers held meeting of its creation in his house despite the fact that he was not an indigene of the state.
“He delivered our requests to the then Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and also played critical roles in siting the state’s capital in Abakaliki after it was created”.