Chief Iwuanyanwu: “My emergence as Ohanaeze President-General is remarkable in my life”
Business mogul and elder statesman Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, (Ahaejiejemba) has been elected as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex igbo socio-cultural organization, amid stringent opposition by some groups in Igboland against his emergence. He replaces Prof. George Obiozor, who died a few months ago
In his acceptance speech at the Imeobi meeting of Ohanaeze in Enugu on Sunday, Iwuanyanwu described his emergence as the President-General of Ohanaeze as remarkable in his life, because it was a day, he said, when providence and the love of his people propelled him to become the pan-Igbo leader.
He noted that all through his life, he had done his best to serve Igbo both in time of war and time of peace.
Iwuanyanwu also disclosed that he did not nurture the ambition to be the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, saying, “instead I had the ambition of becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I contested for the Presidency on three occasions but I did not succeed. I took my losses in good composure knowing full well that as a Christian, all powers and promotion come from God.
The event was witnessed by Southeast governors and several Igbo leaders, an indication that his emergence commands groundswell of support and acceptance among the Igbo.
The governors were led by the host and governor of Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and his Anambra State counterpart, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to participate in the Ime-Obi sitting of Ohanaeze at the old Government Lodge, Enugu, where Iwuanyanwu was presented and ratified as the new leader of the apex Igbo sociocultural group.
The chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, his Imo and Abia States counterparts, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu were represented by their deputies, Barr. Kelechi Igwe, Prof. Placid Njoku and Hon. Sir Ude Oko Chukwu respectively.
. SummitNews recalls that some groups had earlier described Iwuanyanwu’s selection by the Imo Elders Council, and subsequent presentation to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, as replacement for late Obiozor, as at variance with Ohanaeze’s constitution. Iwuanyanwu hails from Imo state as well as late Obiozor.
Also present at the event were governor-elect of Enugu State, Peter Mbah; former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi; former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim; former Senate president, Adolphus Wabara; Senator Victor Umeh; former Presidents-General of Ohanaeze led by Chief Nnia Nwodo, former minister of health, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, among others
