Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, expressed sadness over the death of its former President General, Prof. Joe Irukwu.
National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, in a statement, said: “Ohanaeze has received, with rude shock, news on the passing of one of its brightest; an accomplished legal luminary, epitome of morality, insurance and risk management wizard, erudite scholar of world renown, Igbo leader and former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. Joe Ogbonna Irukwu.
“Irukwu was elected President General of Ohanaeze in 2003. He served meritoriously and bowed out in 2007. During his tenure, he added colour, glamour, zest, robust intellect and panache to the Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
“One of his works, ‘Nation Building and Ethnic Organisation: A Case Study of Ohanaeze in Nigeria’, published by Spectrum, is an intellectual Magnus opus that fascinated the scholarly community in 2007, as one of the best sellers.
“In the same year, before expiration of his tenure, Irukwu led other Igbo leaders to commission a multi-million naira complex, comprising a 1,500-seater auditorium, library and conference room, which he single-handedly built, as part of his legacy to the Igbo man’s quest for equitable recognition and accommodation in the Nigerian polity.”
Ogbonnia noted that the current President General of the Igbo organisation, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, could not withhold his emotions on hearing the sad news.
He said: “Iwuanyanwu lamented that we have lost a well fulfilled man with a large heart, unassailable friendly finesse and amazing public relations. He added that Irukwu was a quintessence of courage and character, whose legacies in Ohanaeze would always be remembered with deep emotional attachments. He lamented that Irukwu left him when his wise counsel was most needed.”
