KELVIN EGERUE, Owerri
To live in the mind of those you love is not to die. And that was the portion for Chief Dr Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu; Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo when the high and the mighty in the society converged at St Mathew’s Anglican Cathedral Atta, Ikeduru in Imo State last weekend to celebrate six months memorial service of his death.
Chief Iwuanyanwu was until his death on July 25, 2024 at the age of 82, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
He was born on September 4, 1942 and was buried on November 1, 2024 in his home town of Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.
The commemoration service of his death which marked the end of the six months mourning period approved by the Anglican Communion turned out to be a session of praises and outpour of refreshing memories of the time, life and accomplishments of a man described as one of the most illustrious sons of Ndigbo going by the many feats which he accomplished in his lifetime.
Bishop of St Mathew’s Anglican Church, Atta, His Lordship Emmanuel Maduwike who presided over the service, said Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was a good man who lived and died for the good of Nigerians irrespective of tribe, region or religion, adding that he was an example of a detribalized politician and philanthropist. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, he said lived and died for the Lord.
According to him, late Chief Iwuanyanwu was a leader and not a politician. He explained that leaders are mostly concerned about the welfare of the people, while politicians are concerned about winning the next election.
“It is rather very unfortunate that Nigerian politicians are already thinking about and are concerned about winning the 2027 election as opposed to showing concerns and finding solutions to the current sufferings of the common man. This is not the sign and attribute of a leader. There is insecurity in the land. I sincerely employ our political leaders at all levels to think first about the welfare of the people. There are sufferings in the land and nobody can deny that. Farmers cannot even afford yam seedlings for planning, as one costs as much as N600. Government must do something”, Bishop Maduwike lamented.
Trying to demystify the age long saying that a tree does not make a forest, the Bishop argued that the late business mogul succeeded in making a forest out of himself by generating long list of businesses and political off springs to the point that the people that he begot are now much more than a forest of successfull individuals and groups.
Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodinma who spoke at the church service reiterated his conviction that Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu successfully occupied his space in life through acts of purposeful leadership and charity which he said begot development at both the state, regional and national levels.
Represented by the Deputy Governor Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the governor said that what is now left is for Nigerians to emulate the things that characterized the life and time of Iwuanyanwu, who he described as a trail blazer.
The memorial service provided an occasion for St Matthew’s Anglican Church to raise funds for the purchase of power power-generating plant for the use of the church, a task which was successfully accomplished through the generous donations from those who believed in the kindness of the late philanthropist.
Guests which included top politicians, traditional rulers, professional associations and the business community, were later entertained at Iwuanaynwu’s Country Home after the dedication of a cenotaph erected in memory of Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu.
A nationalist par excellence, Chief (Dr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s belief in the unity of Nigeria as a nation state was alive remained very infectious throughout his lifetime time considering his willingness then to always allow national discourse to subsume his personal ambitions.
This was evident in the number of times that he had to trade his ambition to become the president of Nigeria for the unity of the country and for those ideals which stand in favour of the larger society.
It was therefore not surprising that his contemporaries ascribed the title of bridge builder to him against the backdrop of his capacity to attract younger politicians to the fold of the old breed politicians, as much as he held stronger ties to rally all the geo-political zones in the country.
His huge investments in humanity, both in business and the political sphere, stood him out as a colossus in the affairs of Nigeria. One of the fruits of such investments, if it must be revealed, is evident in his never being stranded at any juncture.
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