The death of Chief Osondu Nwoye, one of the wealthiest individuals in Amanuke in Awka North local government area of Anambra state, has left many devastated.

Regarded as a billionaire, he resided in Côte d’Ivoire, where the Africa Cup of Nations AFCON 2023 was being held.

The 53-year-old philanthropist from Umueze, Amanuke, was reportedly watching the Nigeria vs. South Africa match with his wife, Ngozi, and friends in Buake when the tragedy occurred.

Chief Chikodi Anarah, a close friend and influential figure in the Amanuke community, expressed the difficulty of overcoming the shock.

Anarah, also the Anambra state commissioner for Home Affairs, likened the tragedy to a thunderbolt striking Amanuke and the entire state.

He added that he was not aware of any underlying health issues Nwoye may have had before his death.

Anarah said: “Sincerely, we don’t really know what to do again. The entire community is in pain and confused.

“This is a young man who has made so many youths in this community and beyond. He has given scholarships to uncountable persons in the area.

“He has not been in politics and he was not interested in it. He does not belong to any camp. A young man who minds his business as a typical business person.

“Nwoye’s philanthropy is unparalleled in this area. The way he does to the youths is the same way he does to the aged, widows and the less privileged. This is a big blow to us in the Amanuke community and the entire Igbo race.”

Another person who was all tears when the news broke was Chibuzor Nwafor, (aka-Onyeoma), a popular local musician in the area.

His tears could not be subdued as he continued saying on the phone that “a heavy rain has fallen in Amanuke.”

The Nation further gathered that his incontrollable pain was as a result of being one of the beneficiaries of late Nwoye’s philanthropy.

It was further gathered that Onyeoma had equally travelled to Côté d’Ivoire some time ago with his band on the invitation to perform for the billionaire businessman and his friends.

Onyema said: “I really don’t have the strength to talk about him. This heavy rain is a bad one for our people. Please, give me some time to recover myself but he never did.”

Ikechukwu Obdiegwu, from the same community as the late billionaire, simply, described him as a good man who helped people.

A former deputy chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and ward chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Amanuke, told The Nation that, he would have been alive if he had not watched the football match. (The Nation)

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