Jidechukwu Iwuanyanwu, the first son of the late former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has revealed that his father developed heart complications after visiting the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja.
He stated that his father was required to walk for 20 minutes during the visit as security officials did not allow him to drive in. Jidechukwu has now called on the federal government to honor his father’s final wish by securing Kanu’s release.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Owerri, Jidechukwu said his father, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, fell ill after the visit and was rushed to a hospital, where he later passed away.
“My father’s last outing was to the DSS facility to see Nnamdi Kanu. He was made to walk for over 20 minutes as they didn’t let him drive in to see Kanu,” Jidechukwu said.
“Undeterred, my father sojourned on to see Kanu and had a father-son moment with him.
“On returning home, my father complained of his heart and retired to his room to rest. The next morning, he broke down and was rushed to the hospital.”
Jidechukwu urged President Bola Tinubu to grant his father’s last wish by releasing Kanu, stressing that his father remained committed to Kanu’s freedom and the establishment of the South East Development Commission even while in the hospital.
“He was at the hospital till his death. While at the hospital, he was still fighting for Kanu’s release and the realization of the South East Development Commission for the betterment of Ala Igbo,” he stated.
“I’m sure if he were alive, he would have been happy to see one of his wishes come true.”
He added that his father was a man of peace who deeply loved Ndigbo and Nigeria as a whole.
“My father was a man of peace and a man who loved his people, Ndigbo, and Nigeria at large,” he said.
“Nnamdi Kanu’s release will bring further peace and also put an end to the Monday sit-at-home protests in the South East zone.”
“As Mazi Nnamdi Kanu appears in court today, therefore, I use this opportunity to urge the Federal Government to not let my father’s death be in vain, for his wish to be granted in releasing Mazi Kanu, which will also bring peace to our nation, Ndi Igbo,” he added.
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a businessman and publisher of Champion Newspapers, died on July 25, 2024, at the age of 82.
