My friend,  Ambassador Okey Emuchay MFR, Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, spoke for many of us (my mother was Igbo) when he penned this heartfelt lament and tribute to the most recent past President-General of the respected organisation.

It is addressed to Mr Jide Iwuanyanwu, the PG’s eldest son:

“It is with a deep dismay, that I send this tribute on behalf of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. We are dismayed because of the chain of catastrophe that has struck the current NEC of Ohanaeze; we lost Chief Joel Kroham, the Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Professor George Obiozor,  CON, former President General and now the tragic loss of a jinx-breaker, business icon, moral edifice, harmoniser of diverse interests, and an uncommon achiever, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu,  MFR OFR CFR  GCSI FNSE FNIST FNICE KSC (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo), the late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Within the same period, we lost Professor Joe Irukwu, former President General, Dr. Sylvanus Ebigwei, former Vice President General and Professor Ben Nwabueze, former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

While it is incontrovertible that death is a natural phenomenon and an existential reality for all mortals, some deaths are known to create huge gaps that are very difficult to fill. This is true of the passing of  Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo. For the death of Ahaejiagamba, it was a death too many.  

Ahaejiagamba was one of the few Igbo who had vast knowledge, experience and invaluable contacts in diverse fields of life: construction industry, aviation, publishing, sports, real estate, politics, government, etc. At a time in history, Ahaejiagamba was one of the highest employers of labour in Nigeria. The Iwuanyanwu Foundation was also a leading star in the award of scholarships and donations to public institutions, churches, and the vulnerable.

The tenure of Chief Iwuanyanwu as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, was a dramatic turn-around for the apex Igbo socio-cultural body. Ahaejiagamba deployed his wealth of experience and wide contacts to chart a paradigm shift for Ndigbo. He developed a philosophical framework that elevated Ohanaeze Ndigbo far beyond the expectations.

He initiated a critical developmental agenda, such as: finding solutions to the insecurity in the South-East, establishment of an Education Trust Fund, engineering a cultural re-orientation for Ndigbo, resuscitating ailing industries and promoting the philosophy of “Homeward Industrial Renaissance”, championing youth empowerment in the South-East, among others.

In pursuit of the above agenda, Chief Iwuanyanwu, established specialised standing committees to drive the above vision to a reality. These committees include the Education Trust Fund, chaired by seasoned scholar and former Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo; Youth Employment and Skill Acquisition committee, chaired by His Excellency, Senator Chris Ngige; Committee for Reconciliation and Peace Building in Nigeria headed by Dr. Dominic Nnaemeka Okechukwu; Committee on the Diaspora chaired by Dr. Sam Obaji; Committee on Business Leaders led by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; Committee on Culture and Tradition chaired by His Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR (Agbogidi), the Obi of Onitsha; the Chairmen of the Traditional Rulers’ Councils of the Igbo states are also members of this committee.

It is worthy of note that before his assumption of office as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo Day Celebration had not held for years. On September 29, 2023, the Igbo Day was held at the Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu. Ohanaeze used the Igbo Day to present three categories of posthumous awards to the families of some eminent Igbo and their allies. The awards which were in three broad categories are:    the Grand Heroes of Igboland, GHI; the Distinguished Heroes of Igboland, DHI; and the Heroes of Igboland, HI.

The Igbo icons that were in the category of  GHI include the Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, GCFR; Maj. Gen. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi, GCFR; Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu; Dr. Akanu Ibiam; Chief Dennis Osadebay; Dr. M I Okpara;    Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi.

Those in the  DHI  category include Dr. Alex. Ekwueme, GCON; Dr. Abyssinia Akweke Nwafor Orizu; Gen. Phillip Effiong; Dr. Sam Mbakwe; Dr. K. O. Mbadiwe; Dr. Anucha Jaja Wachuku; Prof. Eyo Ita; Justice Chukwudifu Oputa GCON, among others.

Those in the  HI  category include Sen. Francis Ellah; Chief Loius Ojukwu;    Prof Kenneth Dike; Chief Jerome Udorji;    Prof. Njoku Obi; Prof Eni Njoku; Prof. Chike Obi; Sen. Dr. Offia Nwali; Dr. Pius Okigbo, to mention but these.

The most disarming of the Iwuanyanwu mystique was his allergy for harbouring enmity, awesome physical and intellectual prowess, moral rectitude, generous dispositions, audacious visionary, selfless service, and upright judgement on issues. It is needless to add that every member of the NEC of Ohanaeze had a deep emotional attachment to the uncommon leadership qualities of Ahaejiagamba.

At the meeting of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum and other public fora, Chief Iwuanyanwu expressed a deep commitment to Igbo interest in the context of one Nigeria. On many occasions, he argued for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He led a protest to both the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Oba of Lagos, His Majesty, Rilwanu Akiolu in condemnation of the demolition of Igbo properties in Lagos. He led in the struggle for an Igbo to become the president of Nigeria and at various times decried the orchestrated marginalisation of the Igbo by the Federal Government of Nigeria. In fact, Ahaejiagamba was a quintessential colossus.

As we accord Ahaejiagamba a befitting farewell, one of the things we owe his genius is to sustain his robust legacies, especially during his tenure as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

While we extend our condolences to the immediate family of Ahaejiagamba, the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma  CON,  the Government and people of Imo State, we pray that God will grant them the serenity and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

On behalf of the NEC and all the structures of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and indeed the entire sons and daughters of the Igbo nation, I beseech the Almighty to offer the soul of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu an eternal rest in his bosom.”

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