As the final journey to the great beyond of the late President General of Igbo socio-political apex body, Ohaneze Ndigbo (Worldwide), Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu (1942 -2024), CFR, commences tomorrow, Wednesday, October 16, 2024 with Lagos Day of Tributes slated for Eko Convention Center in Victoria Island, Lagos, a prominent Nigerian of Igbo extraction, Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso has described the fallen nationalist cum industrialist as a hero and champion of youth emancipation.
Izunaso who is a sitting Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Imo West and a member of Chief (Dr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu National Burial Committee, spoke with HARRY AWURUMIBE, Editor, Abuja Bureau of Prompt News Online Newspapers.
On what he could make of the demise of this Nigerian hero from Imo State, a nationalist, Chief (Dr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu,he had this to say:
“Well, Chief (Dr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is a man of many parts. The man that represents the real essence of nationalism. He believes in believes in this country. He invested in every part of this country and he has friends within and outside the country.
“He is an industrialist of repute, a manufacturer, an entrepreneur, a renowned and seasoned engineer and also a sports philanthropist, ectra ectra.
“So, he is a man of repute and you can describe him in many spheres of life. So he somebody you can say when his contemporaries were venturing into newspapers business, he ventured too and established Champion Newspapers; when his contemporaries were owning football clubs in Nigeria, he acquired one, the Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC; when his contemporaries were into the aviation sector, he floated Oriental Airlines and so, when they were into construction company, he floated Hadel and Enic.
“So there is nothing good he didn’t put his hands into, be it in Insurance, in Banking and virtually in everything (profitable), and to crown it all, towards the end of his retirement he became the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide which represents the main essence of Igbohood and Igbo nation.
“That is why you can see that everyone is involved in his burial activities. The governments of five South Eastern states are involved in the activities and even the governments of states that are not South Eastern states are also involved in the burial activities of the fallen hero.
“The socio-cultural groups in Nigeria are involved, our politicians are involved and the business community are also involved.
“So you can see that it’s only after his demise and his burial that more will be said about him. You know, now, not many people would say things about him but the people he had helped in life will start coming out now that he is no more to start giving testimonies about him. And, I am sure that all the testimonies will be that of hope for the people who are coming up.
“And we can also pray for his family, his immediate family because his death concerns all of us but we ask the Almighty God to console his immediate family to bear the irreparable loss.
“But the most important thing is that his family at peace, united and they are all working with us to ensure we give their father a befitting burial.
“We must not also fail to thank the South-East Governors Forum headed by the Imo State Governor (Hope Uzodinma). They have shown leadership in the burial activities, so we must commend them for all their roles from now till the end of the burial”.
Recall Chief Iwuanyanwu, a well known businessman and politician, known for his significant contributions to various sectors of the country’s economy, sports and media, died on July 25, 2024.
But the National Burial Committee headed by Senator Ben Ndii Obi which was inaugurated shortly after his the death by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma which has South-East stakeholders, including businessmen and women; academicians, serving and no-serving members of the National Assembly as members announced that Iwuanyanwu’s final journey home will start in Lagos on Wednesday, October 16 while Abuja Day of Tributes will hold at National Ecumenical Centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday, October 18.
According to the Committee, the final burial rites of the fallen nationalist cum industrialist will come to the climax on Friday, November 1, 2024 when the remains of the foremost entrepreneur will be laid to rest at his family house in Atta, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo state.
Late Chief Iwuanyanwu’s funeral programme clearly stated that final burial rites of the patriotic Nigerian and one of the leading lights of the Igbo nation will commence with Lagos Day of Tributes slated for Eko Convention Center in Victoria Island on Wednesday, October 16 while Abuja Day of Tributes will hold at National Ecumenical Centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday, October 18.
The burial train will move to the South East regional headquarters of Enugu in Enugu state on Saturday, October 26, 2024 for Enugu Day of Tributes with a stop-over at his Parklane abode and later at Okpara Square where the public will pay their respects.
Chief Iwuanyanwu’s body will be flown to Owerri, Imo state via Owerri on Tuesday, October 29 for onward movement to his country home Atta, Ikeduru while the Owerri Day of Tributes will hold on Friday, November 1 at Cathedral Of The Transfiguration (CATOL), Anglican Church of Nigeria, Owerri.
Finally, Imo Day of Burial will hold same day (November 1) as Chief Iwuanyanwu’s remains will be taken to his final resting place in his compound at Atta, Ikeduru LGA.
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Some members of the National Burial Committee include Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftains, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso; Senator Uche Ekwunife; General Azubuike Onyeabo Ihejirika (rtd); Professor Okey Ikechukwu; Professor Obiora Okonkwo; Dr. (Mrs) Nwadiuto Iwuanyanwu-Iheakanwa and Chief Jidenna Iwuanyanwu, the deceased children and Dr. Emeka Nwosu among others.
