JUST IN: Ohanaeze mourns as Buhari, Tinubu, others hail Obiozor

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; and that of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, were among those who, on Thursday, mourned the passing of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor.

 The PUNCH had reported that the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, announced Obiozor’s death late Wednesday.

 Buhari, in a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, described the former Ambassador as a diplomat who contributed to the country’s peace.

 He said, “Describing his demise as an immeasurable loss to the country, the President notes that the former Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States, High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus, Ambassador to the State of Israel and former Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs exemplified leadership skills and values as a thoroughbred diplomat.

“President Buhari trusts that all who mourn the demise of the statesman, who commanded great respect among his peers in the academia and foreign policy arena, will honour his memory by actively embracing his beliefs and ideas geared towards uniting Nigeria beyond geo-political considerations.”

 Tinubu, in a condolence message issued by his media office and signed by Mr Tunde Rahman, described Obiozor as one of the foremost patriots who served the country.

 He said, “I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of Ambassador George Obiozor, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. This great Igbo leader and Nigeria’s elder statesman was a distinguished academic and diplomat who served his people and the entire country with honour, dedication and distinction.

“As the leader of Ohanaeze, Ambassador Obiozor championed the course of national unity and economic development while seeking a more equitable and even-handed federation where all the constituent units and ethnic groups can live together in peace and harmony.”

 Similarly, in a Facebook post on Thursday wrote, “Prof. Obiozor was a charismatic personality. He was much at home in any part of Nigeria. He was a consummate diplomat who believed in consensus and had a stabilising influence.

“The Igbo nation will miss him. The whole nation will miss him. Though of Igbo extraction, he was accepted among other leaders and stakeholders in different parts of the country. He will be dearly missed, also his voice of wisdom and reason, which is needed at this crucial time of our socioeconomic and political evolution.”

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, said Obiozor sacrificed his comfort in the service of the Igbo nation.

The statement read partly, “Until his death, he was the President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation. Obiozor was a prodigy and an enigma of some sort: an erudite reflective scholar of world-renowned prophetic intellectual, astute resourceful administrator, sagacious plebian political submarine, seasoned diplomat, cultural reservoir, detribalised patriot, jovial cerebral discussant, among others.

 “Obiozor was sometimes misrepresented and misunderstood because of the silent cautious strategy and tactics with which he pursues his goals but behind the great achiever was an uncommon and perfect gentleman of immense proportions.”

On his part, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said, “Messages of goodwill and felicitations came from all corners of our dear country, extolling his competence, character, rich background and track records.

“I have not forgotten his acceptance speech, in which he promised to use his office to the benefit of Ndigbo and to address the injustices meted out to his people in Nigeria.”

Also, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Anyim, in a condolence message on his Facebook page, described the late Obiozor as a father, a leader, a mentor and a friend and eulogised his love for young people whom he believed are the future of the nation.

The former Governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, in his tribute noted that Obiozor “marketed Nigeria and her potential to the outside world and demonstrated enormous capacity in leadership and international affairs.”

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum, in a joint statement signed by Edwin Clark, leader of the South-South and Pan Niger Delta Forum; Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere and Pogu Bitrus, President of the Middle Belt Forum, described Obiozor as “an exemplary, unpretentious and self-effacing leader; and a first-class gentleman, a thorough bred scholar, who firmly, in tandem with his compatriots, maintained our common stance on the fundamental principles of equity, justice and fairness, and inclusivity, in the quest for a better Nigeria.”