By CHARLES IWUOHA

Facts have emerged on the death of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor.

News Express had broken the news of Obiozor’s death early Tuesday afternoon but the apex Igbo organization claimed that the story was untrue. News Express was, however, vindicated when Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, confirmed Obiozor’s death in an obituary announcement made yesterday evening, Wednesday, December 28, 2022.

Prior to the announcement, a highly placed chieftain of Ohanaeze had disclosed that Obiozor died of a heart-related disease on Boxing Day, December 26.

The source, who wished to be anonymous, told our correspondent: “The man is dead but it’s not in our tradition to announce such death. Even when we have such information, we allow the family members to make such an announcement.

“He died on Monday of heart-related disease. I’m not specific about where he died but he travelled abroad and returned to Lagos.

“I was called in the early hours of December 26th that he died in the early hours.”

Confirming Obiozor’s death, Governor Uzodimma said in a statement entitled, Imo State Government Obituary Announcement”: “On behalf of the government and people of Imo state, I, Sen Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo state, sorrowfuly announce the passage of a great Son of Imo state and Nigeria, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Worldwide, Prof George OBIOZOR.

“A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat and statesman and a tenacious patriot, Prof George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness.

“The death of this foremost Igbo leader and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel, is a big loss to Imo State, the South East and the entire Nigeria. I have no doubt that both Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues.

“May his great and gentle soul rest in peace.”

The statement disclosed that Obiozor’s burial arrangements would be announced in due course by his family.

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