Civil Rights Advocacy Group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to quickly order the immediate release of the incarcerated leader of the self-determination group: Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other unjustly detained Igno youths as the most potent way for his administration to honour the memory of the recently demised global leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

HURIWA recalled that for nearly a year, the late leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu had made several entreaties to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to offer unconditional Amnesty to the detained leader of the Indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB) who has languished in the detention of the Department of State Services since the immediate past President used armed security of Nigeria and Kenya to abduct and repatriated Nnamdi Kanu from Nairobi Kenya for over three years now. The Rights group counselled President Tinubu not to be heartless like his predecessor who failed to accept all entreaties by notable Igbo leaders including the then global leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Professor George Obiozor and also the First Republic Aviation Minister Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi, who both died begging unsuccessfully for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari the immediate past President to release Nnamdi Kanu, but Buhari hardened his heart and failed to free Kanu.

“We are aware that the President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had extended his condolences to the family of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who passed away on Thursday. Tinubu’s condolence message is conveyed in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu mourns Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.’

Besides, HURIWA stated that the family confirmed his demise on Thursday evening in a statement that partly read, “The Iwuanyanwu family of Umuohii Atta, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, announces the demise of our patriarch, Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu-Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo.

“Chief Iwuanyanwu died on Thursday, July 25, 2024, after a brief illness. He was aged 82.” He was an accomplished businessman and notable politician, the family disclosed.

The Rights group also recalled that the Presidential spokesman Chief Ngelale had said thus: “President Tinubu condoles with the Imo State Government, the friends and associates of the deceased, and Ndi Igbo over this irreparable loss.

“The President affirms that Chief Iwuanyanwu will always be remembered for his remarkable legacy.”

Tinubu, therefore, prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed elder statesman and comfort for his family.

In the light of the sincerest condolences of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, HURIWA said the best way to assure the over 60 million Igbo speaking natives Worldwide that the Nigerian president truly meant his every words he uttered in memory of the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the Nigerian President should without any further waste of precious time, save the South East from the prolonged economic bleeding due to instability and insecurity which escalated with the arrest and prolonged detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and thousands of his loyalists by the immediate past government of Muhammadu Buhari who militarised the South East and created the monsters of insecurity and incessant killings, attacks and economic haemorrhage.

HURIWA described the late Igbo leader as one of the clearest advocates of human rights just as the Rights group commended the late Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu for his well-known philanthropic activities since the 1980s. “Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu lived as a respected nationalist but importantly, he was someone who was passionate about the need for equity, social justice, equality of rights of all citizens and the advancement of the Igbo society, language, culture, traditions and entrepreneurship. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu would for thousands of years to come, be remembered as one of the choicest Igbo men created by God.”

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