By Adadainfo
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, weekend, poured encomiums on Chief John Nnia Nwodo jnr who turns 70 on December 11, 2022.
Chief Nwodo, former minister of the Federal Republic and immediate past president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was described by Ohanaeze as ‘an Igbo titan, trail blazer, dogged fighter, transcendental visioner, generosity icon, orator, lawyer, economist, politician and reflective intellectual’.
Ohanaeze’s felicitation was contained in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia.
It read in part, “There is this spark of God on Nnia Nwodo even during his early years. Notably, the birth of every child is an epiphany of hope wrapped in a canvass of diverse possibilities.
“As hard as parents may strive for an upward social mobility of the child, it requires the grace or the spark of God to twang the transcendental cord that excites the critical elements in the child for a self-awakening. Thus, while his peers at a very early age floundered, Nnia flourished with a clear vision of his life mission.
“Evidently, Nwodo pursued his vision with incandescent passion, valour, candour and honour. For instance, at a very early age, Nnia contested and won the president of Debating Society, College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu; at the University of Ibadan (in a Yoruba dominated environment), he contested and won the president of the Students Union; at a very early age, he was elected, the secretary, National Party of Nigeria (NPN), in the old Anambra State; he was appointed, the special assistant to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN); later the minister of aviation (FRN); chairman, Urban Development Bank, Plc; the minister of information and culture (FRN) and was elected to lead the Igbo nation as the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
“It is remarkable that in all the positions that Nwodo held, he discharged all his official functions with enviable elegance, plaudits, exploits, dignity and integrity.
The life of Nnia Nwodo remains a veritable trajectory in courage, heroism, profound insight and foresight, character comeliness, marital exemplariness, devout religiosity and unquenchable patriotic zeal. He is allergic to lukewarm character and does not suffer fools gladly.”
The president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor, in the statement, extolled Nwodo ‘as a great man who profiles in the courage of his convictions, speaks truth to power and goes extra-miles to accomplish his set goals’.
The statement added, “As Nwodo climbs the 7th floor with pomp and splendour, eminent Nigerians, including the former Nigerian president, Chief Dr Olusegun Obasanjo, will lead the dignitaries of diverse backgrounds in the ceremonies outlined to make the event a landmark.
“It is therefore the prayer of all the organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and indeed the Igbo nation that the Prince of Ukehe and our former PG, Chief Barr Nnia Nwodo, celebrate many more fruitful years in robust health and sound mind.”
