By Tony Adibe
An umbrella association of Igbo daughters in the South-East Zone, Delta and Rivers States, popular known as Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora has appealed to South-East governments to immortalise late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo World, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
The President General, Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora, Chief Kate Ezeofor, made the appeal in a speech during the brief stop-over of Iwuanyanwu’s remains at the Ohanaeze National Secretariat in G.R.A, Enugu on Saturday.
NewsBits reports that the event featured the symbolic, traditional presentations of wrappers for the burial of Iwuanyanwu by Umuada Igbo from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu as well as Delta and Rivers States.
It was observed, however, that Imo State members of the Umuada Igbo Nigeria would present theirs during the final burial day of Iwuanyanwu at his country home, Umuohii Attah town, Ikeduru community in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.
Chief Ezeofor further told the gathering: “We are here gathered to pay our last respect to Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a great son of Igbo land who lived and died in the service of his people.
“Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide worked closely with Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora.
“We are Umuada Igbo from the seven Igbo speaking States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo as well as Delta and Rivers. Our organization has ECOSOC status with the United Nations in New York and Geneva, Switzerland.
“As Umuada Igbo, we are making passionate appeals to the governments of South-East States to immortalise Chief Iwuanyanwu in different ways.
“In addition, we ask the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, to immortalise Chief Iwuanyanwu for he was an authentic Nigerian patriot who made innumerable contributions in various sectors.”
She said that as mothers, “we are once again appealing to President Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. His freedom was one of the unfulfilled dreams of our dear leader, Chief Iwuanyanwu.
“We have no doubt that releasing Nnamdi Kanu at this juncture would be a great honour and reprieve for the soul of Chief Iwuanyanwu to have a peaceful repose.”
