By Chinedu Nsofor
It is with a heart filled with grief that I received the news of the death of my political leader and mentor, my father and role model, my boss and benefactor: Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu CFR, OFR, MFR, FNSE, FNICE, FNIST, KSC, GCSI, Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo (President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide).
I was privileged to serve him as his Special Assistant (Special Duties and Special Projects) for five years. I also served as the National Coordinator and Board Secretary of the Iwuanyanwu National Ambulance Foundation for five years, and as the Coordinator of the Iwuanyanwu Foundation for five years. Indeed, I was his most favorite personal aide while he was alive. I was so close to the great Ahaejiagamba of Igbo land that I was among the very few he allowed access to him, even in his bedroom, whenever he had retired from work for the day.
So I knew this man very well and was, in fact, one of his authorized biographers. We started writing his biography while I was still a Corps Member at the Presidency SURE-P and concluded the writing seven years later. The book, “Amazing Grace” (a 940-page biography of Chief Iwuanyanwu), was officially launched on his 80th birthday in 2022. I played a significant role in ensuring that the 80th birthday of our great leader and boss was a huge success. I traversed the nooks and crannies of this country, reaching out to very prominent Nigerians to attend the birthday celebration.
I personally convinced former President of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR to be physically present at the event, even when he had told me he was earlier scheduled to be outside the country for an international assignment. I ensured President Ibrahim Babangida sent in his goodwill messages as I met him personally for that purpose. I also ensured our current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent in his goodwill messages, following up through his son Seyi and his personal assistant. I personally ensured that over three former Senate Presidents of Nigeria attended the 80th birthday of my hero and great leader, meeting each one of them personally. I ensured several captains of industry and billionaires were properly followed up and constantly reminded to be physically present at his landmark 80th birthday event. I knew that was the last biggest honor I needed to pay my great leader while he was still alive.
Today, our great Iroko is gone, and his impact resounds all over the country because he is one man who has raised global leaders and several billionaires within and outside the country. Chief Iwuanyanwu was one man honored and respected more outside the shores of Nigeria than even in Nigeria; this I discovered in my recent partnerships with foreign business partners and organizations.
Chief Iwuanyanwu was a living legend respected and honored more in the far north than in Igbo land, as I found out during my one-month tour of Nigeria in preparation for the 80th birthday of my hero.
As his personal biographer, there are secrets of his greatness I uncovered that had been the propelling force that made him stand out as a global business and political titan. Chief Iwuanyanwu considered humanity first before any other considerations while stepping into business or politics. In business, he set up the Oriental Airlines and Champion Newspapers to project and promote his people, Ndigbo. In civil engineering, he set up the Hardel and Enic Group to compete with the international construction firms at that time.
In politics, he was practically pushed into the arena after a group of Igbo leaders and traditional rulers picked him as Ndigbo’s sole presidential candidate to fill the gap created by the ban of older politicians from contesting elections at that time. Chief Iwuanyanwu almost rejected the call, but he struggled within himself and accepted to be the consensus presidential candidate for Ndigbo at that time. He was subsequently taken to the great Zik of Africa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, for his blessings and guidance. Even though Chief Iwuanyanwu eventually never became president of Nigeria, he successfully raised leaders within and outside Nigeria to carry on from where he stopped in politics.
Time will fail me to talk more about this great man, but I will forever remain grateful to God for bringing me in close contact with the great Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo.
Adieu, my hero. Farewell, Okeosisi Ndigbo!
Your very loyal son/boy,
Chinedu A. Nsofor
Former SA/National Coordinator of Iwuanyanwu Foundations
