By Tony Adibe
The Governor of Imo State, Nigeria Senator Hope Uzodimma has formally confirmed and announced the death of the late Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, Professor George Obiozor.
NewsBits recalls that early since Monday, there have been wide-spread speculations about the death of the former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America. While some ananimous sources said he actually passed on, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, however, denied it, insisting he was alive.
But curiously, in a four paragraphs statement issued in Owerri and made available to NewsBits, Governor Uzodimma, while confirming Obiozor’s demise, said he had no doubt that both Nigeria and the international community would miss Obiozor’s profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues.
The state tagged, “Imo State Government Obituary Announcement,” among other things, read: “On behalf of the government and people of Imo state, I, Sen Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo state, sorrowfully announce the passage of a great son of Imo state and Nigeria, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, worldwide, Prof George Obiozor.
“A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat and statesman and a tenacious patriot, Prof George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness.” Governor Uzodimma said the death of “this foremost Igbo leader and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel, is a big loss to Imo state, the Southeast and the entire Nigeria.”
He said that Obiozor’s burial arrangements will be announced in due course by the family. Governor Uzodimma, however, prayed for the peaceful repose of the departed Ohanaeze’s leader, adding, “May his great and gentle soul rest in peace.”
