Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a native of Atta, Ikeduru, Imo State, is the new President General of Ohanaeze Ndiigbo Worldwide.
He replaced Late Professor George Obiozor, who died last year.
Iwuanyanwu, a known name in Nigeria’s political landscape, is a trained civil engineer, an industrialist, and a philanthropist.
He fought alongside his people during the Nigerian civil war.
He was the M/D of Hardel & Enic Construction Company Ltd., that largely built solid roads across towns and cities in the then old Imo State.
He was the Chairman of the Fundraising Committee that assisted Imo State Government in mobilizing resources for the construction of Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri.
He floated an airline, Oriental Airways, to ensure that Imo Airport remained busy, like other airports.
When the Imo State football team, the Spartans, nearly faced relegation, he offsetted the liabilities, and changed its name to Iwuanyanwu Nationale. Happily, a number of football stars leveraged on the rebranded team to build professional careers in soccer, even beyond Nigeria.
He contested for Nigeria’s presidency thrice, and headed a number of federal government boards and agencies.
In Ohanaeze platform, Iwuanyanwu took over from Late Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu as the Chairman of Planning & Strategy Committee and handed over the baton to Professor Chukwuma Soludo. Before his present position, he served as Chairman of Elders Council of Ohanaeze.
His vast experience and reach, political clout, rich pedigree, name recognition, and social intelligence, are needed at a time like this, in order to reposition and leapfrog Alaigbo from the inherent political cum economic quagmire.
His acceptance speech gives a clear-cut direction of his robust vision. So far, his interventions and comments attest to the fact that the speech was not prepared for him by someone else.
Iwuanyanwu’s first step of using constructive engagement to ensure Nnamdi Kanu’s release by FG will help to stem insecurity and sit-at-home orders in the South East.
He has to shrewdly manage the political biases of the South East Governors to achieve his industrialisation agenda.
The think-home investment drive must go beyond sloganeering. The over ‘one thousand’ Igbo billionaires is Diaspora should be a hot target. Already, the idea of floating Ohanaeze investment company is very inviting.
The post-Buhari era should be more of conciliatory confidenc building, while putting our home in order.
Japan withdrew temporary from muscle flexing of international politics after her two cities were devastated during the WW2. Years later, she announced her arrival from a position of strength. Even the enemies could not ignore them.
Economic development through our areas of comparative advantage should be a priority.
I wish Ahaejiagamba Ndiigbo well!
Jasper Uche. PhD
