•Sam Anya, Eze Nwokolo, Obi Wali, Amaechi others Eulogies Late Igbo Leader
EMMANUEL NLEWEDUM, PORT HARCOURT
It was an evening of solemn tunes, praise, worship, testimonies and eulogies at the “Night of Tributes” held in honour of late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Ahaejiejemba Ndigbo, at the People’s Club, Port Harcourt on Friday October 25, 2024 in Rivers State.
The gathering was indeed a memorable one, with the Igbos in Rivers State eulogising the qualities of their hero and patriarch, Chief Iwuanyanwu, describing him as a great leader and a pillar in not only Igbo land but Nigeria and the world at large.
The event had the Igbos in Rivers state declaring their resolve to immortalise the late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in the state as a mark of honour for him.
Abia State-born Commissioner for Special Duties in Rivers State, Dr. Sam Anya, made the declaration while giving his tribute to late Chief Iwuanyanwu whom he described as a great man, a true leader and a man of integrity.
The Rivers Commissioner for Special Duties who is also the political leader of Igbos in Rivers State said the proposed complex for Igbo Communities in Rivers and Bayelsa headquarters which is to be built in Rivers State will be named after Late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
He said, “We are here to honour and pay tribute to our wonderful father, great leader and someone that has made the Igbo Nation proud in Nigeria and across the world, and he is Chief Dr. Engr. Emmanuel Inwuayanwu, Ahaejiejemba Ndigbo.
“We know death is inevitable, and we can’t question God. But, the death of our leader is a big loss to us, we are pained. We were planning a wonderful reception for him on his planned visit to Rivers State and also to the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, but that didn’t happen before his demise. I am particularly not happy because this promise of giving him a grand reception was not fulfilled. I would have been happy that he came to Rivers State and we paraded the whole of Port Harcourt with our father, but God knows best.
“We are all Igbo, be it Rivers State or Bayelsa, as long as you have anything to do with Igbo, we are all mourning our father and leader, Chief Iwuanyanwu.
“Our leader, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was a man of integrity, he believed in his people.
“We have all, as Ndigbo, made a promise to continue with his legacies.
“We have also resolved to immortalise our father here in Rivers State. The proposed building of the Ndigbo Rivers and Bayelsa headquarters will be named after him.
“A better name to be given that building is Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu House, and by the grace of God, by this time next year we will be having our meetings and other activities in that house. It is a better way to honour a great man of his calibre,” the Commissioner said.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Dr Sam Anya however, used the medium to call on all Igbos in Nigeria and across the world, especially the leaders to live a life that they will always be remembered for when they are no more.
The leader of Igbo Communities in Rivers and Bayelsa States, His Imperial Majesty, Eze Samm Nwokolo, Eze Ji-ofor Ndigbo, Eze Ndigbo Gburu Gburu Rivers and Bayelsa States described the late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as a pillar in the Igbo Nation, amongst other great attributes.
Nwokolo said late Iwuanyanwu was a leading example of what greatness can mean, even as he urged those gathered not to weep over him because he was a good man, who lived a good life and worked tirelessly for love and unity of his people.
The monarch stated that the Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu believed in the Igbo struggle and defended the Igbo nation till the last day of his life. He urged other Igbo leaders at all levels to always promote love, peace and unity in all Igbo land and wherever they find themselves.
He said the death of Chief Iwuanyanwu calls for sober reflection, explaining that the late Igbo leader is being celebrated all over the world as a mark of honour for his legacies and great leadership, adding that Igbos have been left with great task to get a perfect replacement to fill the shoes he left behind.
The leader of Igbo Communities in Rivers and Bayelsa States, King Samm Nwokolo further described Chief Iwuanyanwu as man of integrity, an icon, a man of honour and an epitome of love and humility.
He said, “Today calls for sober reflection. Our great leader and President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Engr Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is being celebrated all over the world. Today, he is being celebrated in Rivers State, similar event, either night of tributes or service of songs is being held to honour him in Lagos, UN, and all over the world.
“Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was indeed a great leader, his legacies will remain in the sand of times. He will forever be remembered,” he Eze Nwokolo posited.
On his part, Chief Ihunwo Obi Wali, son of former late Senator Obi Wali, said Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has served the Igbo nation meritoriously with all commitment and dedication as President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide and at other levels too.
He described him as a good and great man who impacted so many lives in not only in Igbo land, but in Rivers State, in Nigeria and the world at large, adding that he will continuously be remembered for what he lived for.
Also, His Royal Highness, Eze Fineface Amaechi, Ekwuru IV of Ozuzu Kingdom in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, said the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was a revered leader, describing the honour on him across the world as well deserved.
“The honour today on our late leader and President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in Rivers State and across the world is well deserved.
He said, “The late Chief Iwuanyanwu came to this earth, he saw and then he conquered. He achieved a lot in all ramifications.”
Amaechi further stated that the vacuum left behind by the death of Chief Iwuanyanwu will be very difficult to fill, stressing that replacing him will be a very difficult task for the Igbo people.
According to him, “The shoes he (Iwuanyanwu) left behind will be very difficult to fill. He will definitely be missed greatly in Nigeria and Igbo land in particular.
“The next president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide will be faced with a very big task. He must work tenaciously hard, because the Igbo nation has a lot of issues such as unity, love and making sure the interest of the Igbo nation is actualised. And this can’t be done without unity, which was one big project Chief Iwuanyanwu has almost achieved before his demise,” he said.
Earlier in his remark, Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, LOC, for the burial of late Chief Iwuanyanwu in Rivers State, Dr. John Okolie said the Igbos in Rivers State thought it wise to honour their great leader and hero for what he lived for and for his numerous achievements, describing him as a colossus.
He stated that, “Chief Iwuanyanwu grew up in Rivers State, and there is no way the Igbos in Rivers State will not give something back to commemorate and honour this great man that has fallen.”
According to Okolie, “Following his departure, the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo has come to Rivers State and with the state to produce the next president general, how would it be in the annals of history that when the preceding president died, Rivers State as a chapter could not do anything to immortalised him. That is why we have resolved that the proposed Igbo house in Rivers State will be named after this great man, Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. That is the way to honour a hero of this magnitude and that is why gathered in our numbers today despite the rain, to honour him.
“This is our own way of mourning and bidding our own farewell to this fallen hero of Igbo Nation and Nigeria in general.”
Continuing, he said, “Late Chief Iwuanyanwu was a colossus. His leadership style was excellent and he made so many sacrifices to get his leadership right.”
Daily Champion reports that many tributes continued to pour in for late Chief Iwuanyanwu from several prominent personalities from Rivers and Igbo land, with each speaker giving an insight into the Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu many never knew or know too well.
Pastor Julius Uzoma ended the evening with one of the most positive statements that many applauded and welcomed.
He posited that the history of Nigeria will never be complete without devoting some pages to late Chief Iwuanyanwu, pointing out that the departed Igbo leader contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria.
