The Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has established a funeral planning committee to honor the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who passed away on July 25, 2024, while serving as President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.
The committee aims to celebrate Iwuanyanwu’s remarkable contributions to the Igbo community and Nigeria, including his efforts to stabilize the leadership of the youth wing.
The Ohanaeze youth wing is working closely with Iwuanyanwu’s family to ensure a fitting tribute.
In a press conference, Acting National Youth Leader Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu announced the committee’s plans and appealed for the release of Igbos in detention, including IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, according to Daily Post.
The youth wing also urged the Federal Government to address the plight of thousands of Igbo youths held in detention facilities across the country.
The funeral planning committee’s efforts will recognize Iwuanyanwu’s lasting legacy and commitment to the Igbo community and Nigeria. Further updates will be provided as plans progress.
The Ohanaeze youth wing said it would “recognise Iwuanyanwu’s far-reaching developmental and progressive strides in over six decades of his active service to Igbo land and Nigeria at large, especially, his contributions to the formation, sustainability and growth of the apex Igbo sociopolitical and cultural organisation”.
“On this note, we have set up a funeral planning committee for the purpose of celebrating his legacies, especially, in the lives of the youths. We shall continue to update the public on this, as we progress.
“We have also initiated moves to collaborate with relevant authorities towards securing lasting peace, security and economic stability in the South-East,” Okpalaezeukwu said.
“We wish to use this medium to reiterate our appeal for speedy review and dispensation of justice to thousands of Igbo youths who are held in various detention facilities across the country as Awaiting Trial Inmates.
“We are collaborating with relevant authorities to secure the freedom of as many of these youths that are innocent, while we also urge His Excellency President Bola Tinubu, in tandem with his resolve to completely heal Nigeria of the wounds of the Civil War, to deploy his constitutional powers towards facilitating the release of our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We also wish to reiterate our appeal to Igbo youths to maintain the peace and resist attempts by subversive elements to indoctrinate them into violent and destructive actions against the Motherland,” Okpalaezeukwu added.
