Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his condolences on the demise of the President-General of the pan-Igbo Socio-Cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
The Governor in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, described the death of Chief Iwuanyanwu as a great loss to the Igbo race and the Nigerian nation.
He said the deceased made a great impact in his lifetime as a politician, businessman, industrialist, publisher and community leader.
Governor Oyebanji noted that the late Chief Iwuanyanwu built bridges of friendship across ethnic nationalities, religions and cultures and worked hard in promoting unity among Nigerians of different backgrounds.
The Ekiti helmsman pointed out that the late Chief Iwuanyanwu contributed immensely to the nation’s economy in areas of construction, real estate, publishing, shipping, aviation, sports, among others, creating jobs for thousands of Nigerians.
He hailed the deceased for being an apostle of politics without bitterness in his lifetime seeing politics as an avenue to serve his country and deepen democratic culture.
He added that the sterling qualities and worth of the deceased made his kinsmen to entrust the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo on him and this was visible in the way he used the position to promote the unity of Nigeria.
Governor Oyebanji prayed God to grant the family members, associates and admirers of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss urging them to be consoled by the good legacies he left behind.
“On behalf of the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the immediate family of the late Chief Iwuanyawu, the Champion Newspaper family, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the good people of the Southeast on the passing of this great Nigerian patriot. May God grant him eternal rest”
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu passed on Thursday 25th July, 2024 at the age of 82.
