The burial of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the late President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has been scheduled for November 1. This was announced by Senator Ben Obi, chairman of the burial committee, at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, September 19.
Joined by Amb. Okey Emuchay, Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and other committee members, Senator Obi outlined the series of events leading up to the burial. He said, “Our message today is to convey the dates for the burial of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”
Here’s the schedule of events:
– Lagos Day of Tributes: Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Eko Hotels and Convention Centre.
– Abuja Day of Tributes: Friday, October 18, 2024, at the National Ecumenical Centre.
– Enugu Day of Tributes: Saturday, October 26, with a brief stop at Ohanaeze headquarters, followed by the main event at Okpara Square.
– Owerri Service of Songs: Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
– Commendation Service: November 1 in Owerri, with the burial taking place on the same day.
Further details will be provided later.
On Nnamdi Kanu
When asked about Chief Iwuanyanwu’s thoughts on securing the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his efforts for a restructured federation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe said Iwuanyanwu died fulfilled, having done his best in challenging circumstances.
Senator Obi noted, “Chief Iwuanyanwu and I visited Kanu in jail, which was his last official assignment. He never missed a chance to call for Kanu’s release and advocated for equity, fairness, and justice.”
Obi added that Iwuanyanwu collaborated with groups like the South South PANDEF and Middle Belt Forum to push for equality in the number of states across geopolitical zones. “We in Ohanaeze will continue to pursue the issues he cared deeply about,” he assured.
Federal Government’s Participation
Regarding whether the Federal Government would be involved in the burial, Senator Obi mentioned plans to visit President Bola Tinubu to inform him of Chief Iwuanyanwu’s passing and burial details.
“We will be visiting President Tinubu to formally announce the details of this transition, and I’m sure he understands the significance of Chief Iwuanyanwu’s contributions,” he said.
