The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Amb. (Prof.) George
Obiozor was on Friday laid to rest at his Awo Omamma country home in Oru East
Local Government Area of Imo State, with President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor
Hope Uzodimma and other prominent Nigerians agreeing that Nigeria, the
diplomatic community and Ndigbo will miss him deeply.
President Buhari and Governor Uzodimma spoke in their separate
remarks at the Maria Assumpta Catholic Cathedral, Owerri where the burial Mass
for Prof. Obiozor conducted by Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese, His Grace Moses
Chikwe, was held.
The Governor said that "Nigerians, the Diplomatic Community
will miss Prof. George Obiozor greatly," a position President Buhari
reiterated in his condolence message read on his behalf by the Minister of
State, Mines, Chief Henry Ikoh.
Governor Uzodimma who described death as "very very
wicked" said "the Igbo race has ’’lost a gem, Nigeria has lost a
star, and the world has lost a man that can be described as a global
encyclopedia."
The Governor added that "the entire South East has lost a
consummate and compassionate leader, Imo State has lost one of her illustrious
sons, a pacesetter, erudite scholar, advisor, councilor, and one of the pillars
of the 3R government."
The Governor therefore enjoined the bereaved family, the Igbo
race and Ohanaeze Ndibo in general to take heart, noting that "it is
difficult to believe that Prof. Obiozor will die but it is the will of God that
all mortals will one day join him in his bosom."
Governor Uzodimma said that Prof. Obiozor represented a solid
rock of support to his government, "the kind only a father provides to his
son."
He noted that as a rare breed academic, Prof. Obiozor attained
the pinnacle of his career, served Nigeria as an Ambassador to three countries
of Cyprus, Israel and United States of America as well as playing a key role in
mid-wifing the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs to a global
phenomenon, thereby helping to put Nigeria on the global map for positive
reasons.
"Yet he was as humble as they came," Uzodimma
said.
He
enjoined the family to have faith in God and encouraged everyone to pray for
the deceased family, noting that "only prayers will console them."
The Governor who reminded the deceased family that the Bible
tells us not to mourn like those without hope said "the legacies of Prof.
George Obiozor will guide all who knew him to always remember him as a man who
came and conquered his environment in all ramifications.”
Governor Uzodimma thanked those who attended Prof Obiozor's
burial and condoled with the friends of Prof Obiozor over the pain his death
had caused them.
The Governor said every Nigerian and Ndigbo in particular have
lost a great man. He agreed with everyone that spoke at the reception in the of
Prof. Obiozor that the latter has not died.
In his condolence message, President Buhari represented by
Chief Iko also described Prof. Obiozor's passing as a "great loss to
Nigeria, the diplomatic Community, Ndigbo and particularly the Igbo
people."
Buhari told the congregation that "Prof. Obiozor was a
renowned academician, a diplomat par excellence who served Nigeria in different
capacities as an ambassador in three countries where he gave a good
account of himself."
The President added: "Late Prof. Amb. George Obiozor
was a Nigerian Patriot of the highest order and a famous Igbo Leader who, when
it mattered most, led the Igbo socio-cultural group called Ohanaeze to carter
for the interest of the Igbo Nation."
He then concluded that the deceased left "an indelible mark
in the sands of time," emphasizing that "the Igbo Nation will indeed
miss Prof. Obiozor, Nigeria will miss him and the diplomatic Community will
miss him a great deal."
President Buhari urged the Government and people of Imo State,
Ndigbo, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and Nigerians in general to bear the
irreplaceable loss with fortitude.
In a brief homily, the Auxiliary Bishop of Catholic Diocese of
Owerri, Bishop Chikwe reminded the congregation that "as Christians death
is the beginning of a new life, what we owe ourselves is to be always prepared
for the last day, because the world we are into is ephemeral since we are going
somewhere."
He added: "We should always trust in God because our hope
is in him. God is always interested in us and to be sure of us making heaven.
Besides prayers we should reconcile with all now since we don’t know when the
day will be."
He thanked those who came to honour the late Prof Obiozor and
his family.
He thanked, especially, Governor Uzodimma, the Owerri Diocese
and all the people for their prayers, their financial and moral support.
The
Bishop also thanked the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the different
arrangements they made "that culminated in the befitting burial of their
husband, father, brother and uncle Amb. Prof. George Obiozor CON."
The burial Church Service and reception ceremony of Prof Obiozor
which was held at the Rockview Hotel in Owerri, attracted the who is who in the
South East regardless of political persuasion.
They included but not limited to the wife of the Governor of Imo
State, Barr. (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof.
Placid Njoku, Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Emeka Nduka and his
colleagues, and members of the Imo State Expanded Executive Council.
Others include, the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Theresa
Chikeka and senior members of the State's Judiciary.
Former Military Administrator of Imo State, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu,
former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ihejirika, elder statesman, Chief (Engr.)
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, former Governor
of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, former Minister of Health, Prof. ABC Nwosu,
Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo World-wide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay,
former INEC National Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu, former Governor of Anambra
State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Sen. Ben Obi, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Dr. Ijioma
Aregbuogu, APC governorship candidate in Enugu, Chief Uche Nnaji, APC
senatorial candidate for Orlu, Sen Osita Izunaso, amnon others.
The past and current leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,
Dr. ABC Orjiakor, founder of SEPLAT Petroleum, Eng. Ben. Alake from the
Middle Belt Forum, representatives of the PANDEF, among others.
Members of the clergy include His Grace, the Most Rev. (Dr.)
Augustine Ukwuoma, the Bishop of Orlu Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Gilbert
Alaribe, the Chaplin Government House, Chapel Owerri, and other clergymen.
Members of the traditional institution were represented by the
Eze Imo, HRH, Eze EC Okeke, the Chairman of Imo State Elders Council, HRM Eze
Cletus Ilomuanya, among others.
All the leaders who attended the reception and made remarks
about him agreed that the late Prof Obiozor was a rare gem who served humanity
and God with all that God endowed him with.
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