The Igbo Journalists Association (IJA), has received the news of the death of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (Ahaejiagamba of Igboland), with shock, disbelief and sadness.
The IJA which is an affiliate to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, regarded Chief Iwuanyanwu, while alive as a father, peaceful and gentle personality who contributed in uncountable ways in building people with his personal resources, for many years, without asking for payback.
In a statement signed by the National President and the Assistant Secretary of the association, in Owerri, capital of Imo State, Sir Amby Uneze and Charles Ogugbuaja, respectively, the group described the late Chief Iwuanyanwu as an irreplaceable Igbo icon whose contributions to nation-building and the world at large, were unprecedented and unequalled.
According to the statement, the deceased played politics without bitterness, having made, nurtured and sustained friendship across the lengths and breathes of the country, and beyond.
The statement read: "He had numerous followers and friends all over the nation because he was a bridge builder, hence people loved, admired and cherished his style of politics which hinged on justice, peace and love.
"We recall his advise to us when the executive members of IJA paid him a courtesy visit at his Glass House office in Owerri, in April this year, as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, where he pronounced that henceforth 'Igbo Journalists Association' had been officially given an affiliate status to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, thereby making the IJA a statutory body under the Ohanaeze Ndigbo."
The statement continued, "During that visit, he reminded us that no matter where we practiced, that as journalists of Ndigbo extraction, that our primary concern and role should be to always project the activities of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the Igbo unity project in order to attract development, unity and progress in Igboland.
"IJA, therefore, commiserates with the Iwuanyanwu family, Imo State government, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and Nigeria in general for the irreparable loss of the elder statesman," the statement read.
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