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Abuja day of tributes:Late Iwuanyanwu should be celebrated – former President Jonathan

Written by silvernewsng

Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, says the Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu should rather be celebrated than mourned. The former president made the declaration when he led other personalities to shower encomiums on late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Speaking at a Service of Songs held at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja on Friday, the former President said though late Chief Iwuanyanwu is being mourned, he should rather be celebrated because he touched the lives of many people.

Jonathan described late Chief Iwuanyanwu as a devout Christian who he said prayed for him and the nation when late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was ill and the country was at a crossroads.

According to him, late Chief Iwuanyanwu took him as a son right from when he was the deputy governor of Bayelsa state, and mentored him in politics.

A one-time Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate-past governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, said the nation has lost a leader. “We have lost our leader, our pathfinder, and ambassador extraordinaire,” he lamented.

Ihedioha, who observed that God had endowed late Chief Iwuanyanwu with the wisdom of Solomon, prayed for the family to bear the loss.

Mr. Emma Agu, the pioneer editor of Daily Champion newspaper, the newspaper established by the late Chief Iwuanyanwu in 1988, said he was privileged to serve the company for 20 years.

Mr. Agu, who rose to become the Managing Director of Champion Newspapers, declared that if given another opportunity to work for the late Chief Iwuanyanwu, he would be glad to serve again.

Chairman of the National Burial Committee, Senator Ben Obi, in his remarks, described late Iwuanyanwu as a humble and generous man with success stories in sports, philanthropy, media, business, aviation, among others.

Bishop of Abuja and Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, represented by Bishop of the Niger Diocese, Bishop Owen Chidozie Nwokolo, said the presence of many people at the service showed the love for the family in their time of grief.

According to him, “It is not how short or how long one lives, but what impact one had made on people around him.”

He said: “It’s not the positions you occupied that matters, but what you achieved and what you would be remembered for. Iwuanyanwu was a household name in Nigeria; the name cannot be easily forgotten.
“He lived for 81 years – not wasted years – but years of great impact on people, which will not be forgotten in a hurry. What about you?”
He threw the question in the direction of the political and business leaders present at the National Ecumenical Centre: “What are people saying about you now, and what will people say when you are gone?”

He further noted that the late Iwuanyanwu impacted on the lives of many people he came in contact with and even though he has gone forever, he won’t be forgotten.

Late Iwuanyanwu’s youngest son, Emmanuel Jnr, in a touching funeral oration, described his father as an inspiration to many people, never flamboyant, but with a very humble beginning.

After the tributes, special prayers were offered for the family. Jidechukwu, the eldest son of Chief Iwuanyanwu, in a vote of thanks, commended the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the National Burial Committee, Imo and other State Governments, friends, and associates for the support given to the family since the passing away of the late business mogul.
Top guns at the night of tributes in Abuja:
Among dignitaries at the Service were three former Senate Presidents: Anyim Pius Anyim, Chief Adolphus Wabara, and Chief Ken Namani. Others were deputy governor of Imo State, Chinyere Ekomaru; Senator Rochas Okoracha; Senator Uzor Kalu; Senator Chris Anyanwu; Senator Ned Nwoko; Senator Victor Umeh; former Imo state governor Achike Udenwa; Senator Chris Anyanwu; Publisher of NATIONAL ACCORD Newspaper, Mr. Tom Chiahemen; Publisher of Daily Asset Newspapers, Dr. Cletus Akwaya; Publisher of Apex News Exclusive, Mr. Anthony Maliki; Publisher of Sleek News Online, Mr. Andrew Orolua and; a Chairmanship aspirant in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Johnchuks Onuanyim.

The nationwide tribute series continues toward the south-east before final interment in Imo State.

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