The National Burial Committee for Late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has announced that the activities marking the burial of the late politician and businessman would kick off in Lagos on the 16th of October with the Lagos Day of Tribute.
This was announced by the Committee on Thursday through it’s National Chairman, Senator Ben Obi while briefing journalists in Abuja.
Obi who said the event will hold at Eko Hotel disclosed that the Federal Government would be contacted by the Committee to participate in the programme as the Late football promoter was a national figure in his lifetime.
According to the Committee, Abuja, the Federal Capital City would host the second activity which is another day of tribute on the 18th of October at the National Christian Centre while another one holds in Enugu, Enugu State Capital on the 26th of the same next month at the Okpara Square.
Also, Owerri, the Imo State capital would host the service of songs on the 29th of October in Attack, Ikeduru, the home town of the deceased.
On the 1 st of November, Senator Obi went on, there would be Commendation service in Owerri while the “Igoq burial” would hold on the same day in Attack, Ikeduru.
Speaking on the Iwuanyanwu, Obi described him as: ” a distinguished national icon, leader, business man, sports mogul and patriot.
“I would like to first place it on record that Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo, is one of the few Nigerians who can be described as a gift of God to this country. He touched many lives, communities and sectors in his long and eventful life. He invested heavily in nation building, group cohesion and the struggle for equity in our national life.
“Ahaejiagamba performed with distinction in the following areas, where he left lasting and indelible impressions.
“THE MEDIA
As publisher of Champion Newspapers, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Ahaejiagamba, brought a strong and credible voice into Nigeria’s media space. The newspaper presented informed perspectives, projected public interest news and also maintained a balanced reporting of critical national development and policy issues.
“BUSINESS AND AVIATION
Oriental Airlines, the flagship of aviation service in the South East route was the brainchild of Ahaejiagamba. He set it up, nurtured it and created new paradigms in the aviation services by focusing on what is important to the people.
“Beyond setting up the airline, our late leader put down 2 million dollars of his hard-earned money towards the construction of the now-very-strategic Sam Mbakwe Airport in Imo State.
“His construction company, Hardel and Enic left its mark in road construction, the building of estate and, especially, in the construction of impressive academic blocks in some of our universities. He was a success story in every line of business he ventured into and touched more lives than we can mention here today.
“He made our people proud with Iwuanyanwu Narionale football team, which became both a rallying sports platform and a symbol of group pride. Ahaejiagamba play at the highest level of national politics. His political aspirations were also tied to his subsisting desire to positively impact the life of the people and help in driving using the best, and highest, global standards for responsible leadership”, he said adding that “There is a lot more to be said about this great man.”
The Committee also disclosed that the Nigerian Football Federation, the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the other groups where Iwuanyanwu belonged would be actively involved in his burial.
They also described him as a man who fought for the South East, and a better and restructured Nigeria adding that they would press for the Federal Government to immortalize the late Ohanaeze leader.
