Elders of the Middle Belt have implored President Bola Tinubu to immortalize the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

Iwuanyanwu, who served as the 11th President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, died in July, 25, 2024.

Deputy Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum, Major-General Lawrence Onoja (retd), stated this when he led a delegation to pay a condolence visit to the family of Iwuanyanwu, yesterday in Abuja.

Onoja, who was a military governor of Plateau-Borno, Katsina States, described the late businessman as a defender of the minority groups, especially in the area of restructuring.

“We have come here on behalf of the chairman, Elder Council of the Middle Belt. I am the deputy, to come and commiserate with the family of the late Chief Iwuanyanwu, who has been very close to the middle belt people.

“His dead came as a shock to all of us when knew him. Chief Iwuanyanwu has always supported the stand of the middle belt people on national issues, especially the issue of restructuring of the country.

“We all supported him. Anybody in the middle belt will support restructuring of the country. That is the only way we can move forward in the development of the country. We miss him because he has left a vacuum.

“We hope that Ndigbo will follow his footsteps in supporting the middle belt and minorities in agitating and pushing for the restructuring of this country. And we have a president today who believes in the support of this course.

“As far as we are concerned, people are feeling the pains of some of the policies. But I believe as a person, that what he is doing is laying the foundation for the future of development and good governance.

“He (Iwuanyanwu) will be remembered for being the father, not just for the Igbo people but those of us who are in the middle belt and the minorities in general. He has always supported us.

“He will be remembered for being a true nationalist. He was a detribalised Nigerian and a man who believed in the unity of the Igbo people and beyond.”

Senator Ben Obi corroborated the encomiums of Major General Onoja, by christening the late Iwuanyanwu as an astute businessman and a global citizen.

“He was a global citizen in every aspect of all endeavours he went into; sports, publishing, transports and business in general. He was a success story at all times. He had his tentacles spread across the globe. He was a man that was so recognised,” Obi said. (Daily Sun)

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