From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Leader, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, Senator Ben Obi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, and a former Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Simeon Okeke, have told the Federal Government to name a public edifice after the late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuananwu.
They spoke yesterday when the PANDEF delegation paid a condolence visit to Iwuananwu’s family, in Abuja.
Clark, who was represented by Ambassador Godknows Igali, said: “We have come to pay our condolences to the family of the Iwuananwu family, in particular to the wife and children and the people of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in general over the loss of a spectacular and great Nigerian, Chief Engineer Emmanuel Iwuananwu.
“We have told them that the loss is shared by the people of the Niger Delta, people of the South South, because he was a leader of not just the Igbo people, but our own zone of the country.
“He saw us as one and we did things in the South East because of him, particularly he shared a good relationship with our father and leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
“We want to say today that Chief Iwuananwu considered himself a Nigerian, who believed that this country should be strong and great on truth, justice and fairness on the principles of hard work.
“It is on this reason that we in the region will participate fully in the burial. Already we are in the committee. Already, we are mobilizing our kings, chiefs, women and men to participate in the funeral.
“We hope that at the right time, the Federal Government will properly immortalise him because he deserves it. The Federal Government knows what to do.
“They know the value he stood for, and must be immortalised. We know that the Federal Government will do that.”
Chief Ozekhome said: “I believe that he can be honoured in many ways. A big institution should be named after him, as a pan-Nigerian. Of course, we already have some roads named after him. But I believe a big institution should be named after him.”
Meanwhile, Senator Obi, who is a member of the burial committee said the elder statesman would be buried in November 1.
“The burial programme will start in Lagos State, that is the day of tributes on Wednesday 16 of October. Then, we will move to Abuja on Friday 18, October for the day of tributes.
“The day of tributes and ceremonies will hold in Enugu on Saturday, October 26, and in his country home on October 29 for service of songs. And November 1 will be internment.
On the Immortalisation, he said: “The government knows how to immortalise him. We do not want to say they should do this or that. The government knows that Chief Iwuananwu needs to be immortalised. I am sure they will do so.”
