JomogNews Nigeria reports that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is dead. His son Jide Iwuanyanwu confirmed the development.

According to a statement, Jide said the 82-year-old Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday after a brief illness.

“The Iwuanyanwu family of Umuohii Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, announces the demise of our patriarch, Engr Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu-Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo,” the statement read.

“Chief Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday, July 25, 2024, after a brief illness. He was aged 82. Chief Iwuanyanwu before his death was President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide and President of Owerri Peoples Assembly.”

This is the second death the Igbo cultural organisation has recorded within three years. He succeeded Ambassador George Obiozor, who passed away in December 2022.

Iwuanyanwu assumed office as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide on April 20, 2023

He was chosen as the consensus candidate by the Imo State Council of Elders, led by Eze Ilomuanya, in a process that is not likely to play out this time around as the late elder statesman’s tenure will end in December 2024.

He is survived by his wife, Lady Princess Frances Iwuanyanwu, many children and grandchildren.

The statement stated that the burial details will be announced later by the family after due consultations.

The news of the business mogul’s sudden sent shockwaves across the state and Nigeria generally.

Reacting, a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), Chief Mike Ahamba expressed rude shock at the sudden death of Iwuanyanwu.

“I’m shocked and saddened to hear the news. Iwuanyanwu was very friendly person. May his soul rest in peace”.

The leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) said the death the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo’s was received with a devastative shock.

Leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu expressed deep sadness.

“We received the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu with devastating shock.

He was a devout and dedicated Igbo leader. Ndigbo shall miss him, his fatherly efforts and commitment for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu shall never be in vain.

“MASSOB and the people of Biafra mourns a gallant Biafra hero.”

He attended New Bethel College, Onitsha, Anambra State. In 1960, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, with a select brilliant few, were offered admission into the Federal school of Science, Lagos, where he studied Pure and Applied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

The Civil war fought 1967 to 1970, interrupted Iwuanyanwu’s studies. He was drafted into the Biafra Research and Production (RaP) Directorate headed by Professor Benjamin Chukwuka Nwosu, a nuclear physicist. Iwuanyanwu served in the Rocket Unit of RaP headed by Professor Gordian Ezekwe.

After the civil war, Iwuanyanwu resumed studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, graduating later in 1971.

In June 1990, former Military President of General Ibrahim Babangida, lifted the ban on political activities. Chief Iwuanyanwu emerged the National Chairman of the unregistered Nigeria National Congress (NNC) which later fused into the National Republican Convention (NRC) party.

He contested for the presidency under the NRC. Incidentally, General Ibrahim Babangida also lifted ban on old politicians of the first and second republics and Adamu Ciroma entered the contest.

He won in the NRC presidential primaries and the party decided that Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu would be his running mate.

In September 1999, the leaders of the APP in the South-east, including Chief Iwuanyanwu, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor and Mrs. Joy Emodi and their political associates, decamped to the PDP.

Thousands of their supporters followed along. Former Abia Governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, commended the action, describing it as strategic for the Igbo. Chief Iwuanyanwu supported the Obasanjo government.

He declined being a minister, successfully recommending acolytes to such a position. Nevertheless, he has also been the Leader of the North-East Zone PDP Reconciliation/ Harmonization Team and the oldest member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP and coordinated the party’s campaign for the Southeast zone during the 2003 Presidential election. He was also a Member of the National Political Reform Conference in 2005.

Chief Iwuanyanwu founded the Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club (now Heartland F.C.), which won several national and international championships.

He was the Chairman, National Sports Development Fund, and, Chairman, Nigerian Football Association USA “94” and Cup of Nations Fund Raising Committee and publisher of Champion Newspapers.