A funeral committee has been set up by the Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to celebrate the legacies of the late president of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
The late Iwuanyanwu, who became President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide after the death of Prof. George Obiozor, died on July 25, 2024.
The Ohanaeze youth wing said it would “recognise Iwuanyanwu’s far-reaching developmental and progressive strides in over six decades of his active service to Igbo land and Nigeria at large, especially, his contributions to the formation, sustainability and growth of the apex Igbo sociopolitical and cultural organisation”.
The group equally commended the late elder statesman for efforts he made to stabilise the leadership of the youth wing.
At a press conference addressed by Acting National Youth Leader, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, the group noted that they were in constant communication with Iwuanyanwu’s family and were determined to accord him the highest honour deserving of his service to Ndigbo and Nigeria at large.
The youth wing stated that recognising late Iwuanyanwu was aimed at immortalising him and sustaining his enviable legacies.
“On this note, we have set up a funeral planning committee for the purpose of celebrating his legacies, especially, in the lives of the youths. We shall continue to update the public on this, as we progress.
“We have also initiated moves to collaborate with relevant authorities towards securing lasting peace, security and economic stability in the South-East,”
Okpalaezeukwu said..
The Ohanaeze youths, in the same vein, urged the Federal Government to release Igbos in detention across the country, including leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
“We wish to use this medium to reiterate our appeal for speedy review and dispensation of justice to thousands of Igbo youths who are held in various detention facilities across the country as Awaiting Trial Inmates.
“We are collaborating with relevant authorities to secure the freedom of as many of these youths that are innocent, while we also urge His Excellency President Bola Tinubu, in tandem with his resolve to completely heal Nigeria of the wounds of the Civil War, to deploy his constitutional powers towards facilitating the release of our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We also wish to reiterate our appeal to Igbo youths to maintain the peace and resist attempts by subversive elements to indoctrinate them into violent and destructive actions against the Motherland,”
Okpalaezeukwu added.