Senator Ben Obi, chairman of the National Burial Committee for the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has said Igbo leaders will ensure the actualisation of the deceased elder statesman’s vision for the South East region.
He said issues such as the restructuring of Nigeria, the creation of an additional state in the South East and the release of the detained leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, which were so dear to Iwuanyanwu would be pursued to a logical conclusion.
Ben Obi, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja yesterday on the funeral arrangements for the late business mogul, publisher and industrialist, disclosed that Iwuanyanwu would be interred on November 1, 2024, after Days of Tributes in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Owerri in Imo State.
On restructuring, Ben Obi said Iwuanyanwayu was passionate about equity and justice for the Igbo in a restructured Nigeria, adding that in line with his dream, South East leaders will continue with the engagement of other ethnic groups such as Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) to achieve the goal.
He said leaders of the Middle Belt have already called on the federal government to immortalise the nationalist because he meant well for Nigeria, adding that Igbo leaders would interface with other Nigerians to realise the goal.
Ben Obi said the committee will work with the South East governors led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure the federal government’s participation in Iwuanyanwayu’s burial.
He further said the committee would also engage the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and stakeholders in the aviation industry where the deceased made a significant impact during his lifetime to give him a befitting burial.
Responding to a question on whether Iwuanyanwu had any regrets over the non-restructuring of Nigeria and Kanu’s, which he struggled for, the national publicity secretary of Ohanaeze, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said no, adding that the late elder statesman did his best on the twin-issues.
He recalled Iwuanyanwu’s last official assignment, which was the visit to the Department of State Services (DSS) to see Nnamdi Kanu.
Giving details on the funeral arrangements, Ben Obi said the Lagos Day of Tributes would be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Eko Hotel and Suites; it will be followed by the Abuja edition on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja and the Enugu Day of Tributes on Saturday, October 26, 2024, and a brief stopover at Ohanaeze Headquarters at 7, Park Lane, Enugu.
According to the schedule, the “Service of Songs” will take place on Tuesday, October 29, in Attah, Ikeduru LGA of Imo State. Iwuanyanwu will be interred in his country home, Attah, on November 1, 2024.