By Adadainfo
The Eastern Union, a homogenous body championing the political emancipation of the old Eastern Region, Sunday, paid glowing tributes to Chief (Engr) Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, who turned 80 today.
EU’s national president, Hon Charles Anike, described Chief Iwuanyanwu as ‘the foremost Igbo man who for decades has been at the forefront of the Igbo emancipation’. He said Iwuanyanwu has over the decades been ‘empowering youths and providing succour to the needy’.
In his words, “He feeds multitudes without blinking an eyelid, a generous giver, a mentor. His philanthropic gestures began at home. He is a kingmaker whose human relations remain unsurpassed in the South-East.”
Anike commended Ohanaeze Ndigbo for setting aside Saturday 3rd September to honour Iwuanyanwu. Our correspondent reports that there was a lecture in Owerri yesterday organized by Ohanaeze in honour of Chief Iwuanyanwu. The lecture was delivered by former Ohanaeze president general Chief Nnia Nwodo.
Anike commended Iwuanyanwu’s role towards the emancipation of Ndigbo in Nigeria, and called on Igbo leaders to emulate him. He also made a case for EU’s campaign for Ndigbo to invest at home.
In his words, “Chief Iwuanyawu remains an advocate of Nigeria’s restructuring to further guarantee our region’s protection. We also appeal to Ndigbo generally to support EU’s #BackToTheRoots campaign. This is because wherever we may be in the universe, the urge to go back home is always there. The Eastern Union is driving a campaign to bring many of our entrepreneurs to invest at home.”
He added, “We have long begun political alignments with other groups across the country to share in our view for a south-easterner to become the next president of Nigeria come 2023. There must be UNITY among our leaders to further enlist the confidence of other Nigerians in our ability and the need for them to join our crusade.
“We appeal to Ndigbo, irrespective of political affiliations, to support LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2023 elections.”
