Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has assumed office as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide following the death of Professor George Obiozor.
The elder statesman assumed the position shortly after the Imeobi Ohanaeze ratified his nomination.
Recall that the Imo State Government nominated Iwuanyanwu to replace the former president-general.
The Imeobi meeting was held at the old Government House Lodge, Enugu, where Iwuanyanwu was presented and ratified as the new leader of Ohanaeze.
Those in in attendance were serving governors and former governors, former leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, leaders of the South-East traditional rulers council and senators among others present led by the host and Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Anambra State counterpart, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Also present at the event was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; Governor-elect of Enugu State, Peter Mbah; former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim; former president-generals of Ohanaeze led by Nnia Nwodo, former Minister of Health, Prof. ABC Nwosu, and others.
Iwuanyanwu described the event as a remarkable day in his life. He further said that he had done his best to serve the Igbo both in times of war and peace, adding that he did not nurture the ambition to be the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
He said: “Instead I had the ambition of becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I contested 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.
“But today, destiny has placed squarely on my shoulders the duty of leading the Igbo as the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. I, therefore, have a duty to valiantly defend the Igbo cause and I promise Ime-Obi and all Igbo people that by the grace of God, I will not fail them.”
The businessman said he had carefully examined the present circumstances of Ndigbo and had decided among other things to focus on education, agriculture, industrialisation, electricity, power generation, and health among others as the core of his assignments during his tenure.
On the security situation in the South-East, Iwuanyanwu described it as very disturbing and expressed his belief that there is a very urgent need for a peace summit in Igboland.
He appealed to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, before the expiration of his tenure in office.
According to him, Kanu is very crucial for any key discussion and it is not possible to negotiate any peace while he is in detention.
“It is also important to note that the judiciary has discharged and freed Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. It will be the joy of many Igbo people and Nigerians to see Mazi Nnamdi Kanu released from detention.
“There is also a report that his health is deteriorating. I feel it is important that he is released to have access to his medical doctors so that he does not die in prison,” he warned.
