Enugu, home of everybody in Eastern Nigeria – Iwuanyanwu

By Abiodun OBA

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has affirmed that Enugu the capital of Enugu state, is the home of everybody in Eastern Nigeria.

Iwuanyanwu made this declaration at the Cathedral Church of Good Shepherd, Independence Layout Enugu, during a thanksgiving service as part of this year’s Igbo Day Celebration which will takes place at the Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout Enugu, on Friday, September 29,2023.

“Enugu is the cradle of all the developments in Eastern Nigeria and whenever we come here, we have a sense of home coming, and that is how I feel right now,” Iwuanyanwu said.

In a statement signed by Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Iwuanyanwu thanked Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for taking the funding of the Igbo Day celebration off the shoulders of Ohanaeze saying:

“We are here to give thanks to God, we believe in what the preacher said that once you put your trust in God, He will never fail you. My life is a testimony of God’s love.

“Enugu is the home of everybody in Eastern Nigeria. Enugu is the cradle of all the developments in Eastern Nigeria and whenever we come here, we have a sense of home coming, and that is how I feel right now,” Iwuanyanwu said.

Welcoming Ohanaeze Ndigbo to the Cathedral of Good Shepherd, the Archbishop of Enugu Anglican Province, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, urged all Igbo to support Iwuanyanwu’s leadership, explaining that he was a unanimous choice.

He said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnayi, Iwuanyanwu, I thank you for coming, my people please this is a new Ohanaeze Ndigbo. It is in this Cathedral compound that I hosted all church leaders, inviting all the Igbo leaders, several times, in order to ensure that Ndigbo have one voice and peace in Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“I tried everything to get Ndigbo together and we agreed to be one before Professor Obiozor died, now he is no more. I pray now that there is a new Ohanaeze under the leadership of Iwuanyanwu, we all met and said Iwuanyanwu should become the president-general and we have no more cases, no faction.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo now is ready to be self-funding, self-supporting. Deputy Governor, tell the governor that all the governors must support Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Chief Iwuanyanwu, all we are doing to make Ndigbo become one, God will help you, all efforts you are making God will help you.”

The Archbishop called on the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its President General, to restore peace in the South East.

“We must make Tinubu to obey the rule of law, Nnamdi Kanu must be released; they should stop deceiving themselves. Let them release Nnamdi Kanu to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, let them release him to you and see what will happen. Thank God we are overcoming sit-at-home on Mondays.

“Please all of you should cooperate, let us revive the economy of South East,” Chukwuma enjoined.