Members of PANDEF and Iwuanyanwu family during the visit
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) led by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, on Sunday, promised to fully participate in the burial of the late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Iwuanyanwu’s burial has been slated for November 1, 2024.
PANDEF made the promise when a delegation led by Ambassador Godknows Igali, former Nigerian ambassador to the Scandinavian countries – Sweden, Denmark and Norway – and Federal Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources, paid a condolence visit to the Iwuananwu family in Abuja.
The second son of Chief Iwuanyanwu, Chinedu, and his widow, Chinonyerem, were on hand to receive the delegation.
Ambassador Igali who represented Chief E.K. Clark said Iwuanyanwu was not only Igbo leader but also an acknowledged leader in the South-South geopolitical zone.
Going down memory lane, Ambassador Igali, who harped on the rich culture and tradition that have always been shared by the peoples of the Niger Delta and Ndigbo, said: “We have come to pay our condolences to the Iwuanyanwu family, in particular to the wife and children and the people of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in general over the loss of a spectacular and great Nigerian, Chief Engineer Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
“The loss is shared by the people of the Niger Delta, people of the South South, because he was a leader of not just the Igbo people, but our own zone of the country.
“He saw us as one and we did things in the South East because of him, particularly he shared a good relationship with our father and leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
“We want to say today that Chief Iwuanyanwu considered himself a Nigerian, who believed that this country should be strong and great on truth, justice and fairness on the principles of hard work.
“It is for this reason that we in the region will participate fully in the burial. Already we are in the committee. Already, we are mobilizing our kings, chiefs, women and men to participate in the funeral.”
The group extolled the virtues of Chief Iwuanyanwu and called on the Federal Government to immortalize his name.
“We hope that at the right time, the Federal Government will properly immortalise him because he deserves it.”
Also speaking, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, a member of the PANDEF delegation, said: “I believe that he can be honoured in many ways. A big institution should be named after him, as a pan-Nigerian. Of course, we already have some roads named after him. But I believe a big institution should be named after him.”
Receiving the PANDEF delegation on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide were a former chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Simeon Okeke, Senator Ben Obi, and Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Secretary General of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
The Ohanaeze chieftains thanked Chief EK Clark for sending such a powerful delegation that included his first son.
In his own remarks, Senator Obi agreed with the PANDEF chieftains on the need by the President Bola Tinubu administration to honour Chief Iwuanynwu.
“The government knows how to immortalise him. We do not want to say they should do this or that. The government knows that Chief Iwuanyanwu needs to be immortalised. I am sure they will do so,” he said.
On his part, Chief Okeke implored the FG to pay heed to the wish of not only Chief Iwuanyanwu but all Igbos and release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Senator Obi, who is a member of the burial committee, said the elder statesman will be buried on November 1.
The burial programme will start in Lagos State with a day of tributes on Wednesday, October 16 and move to Abuja on October 18.
There will be another day of tributes in Enugu on Saturday, October 26, and a service of songs in his country home, Umuohii Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, on October 29.
