Immortalise Iwuanyanwu by restructuring Nigeria, M’belt elders urge Tinubu

A group of Middle Belt elders has called on President Bola Tinubu to immortalise the immediate past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, by restructuring the country.

The elders, under the umbrella of the Elders Council of the Middle Belt, made the call during a condolence visit to the Iwuanyanwu’s family in Abuja on Tuesday.

Chief Iwuanyanwu passed on Thursday, July 25, 2024, after a brief illness at the age of 82.

Addressing journalists, leader of the delegation and former military governor of Plateau State, General Lawrence Onoja (retd), described the late Iwuanyanwu as a close friend to the people of the Middle Belt, who he said believed in restructuring.

Onoja, a former Principal Staff Officer to the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, said the late Iwuanyanwu had always supported the cause of the Middle Belt, especially on national issues.

According to him, the deceased would be remembered for being a father, not only of Igbo people, but those who are in the middle belt and the minorities.

He said: “His death came as a shock to all of us who knew him, especially those of us in the Middle Belt. He has always supported the stand of Middle Belt forum on national issues, especially on the issue of restructuring of this country. And we all support him and he supports us.

“Anybody in the Middle Belt today will support the restructuring of this country. That is the only way we can move forward with development and progress in this country. And Chief Iwuanyanwu, we miss him because he has left a vacuum, and we hope that Ndigbo will follow his footsteps by supporting the Middle Belt and minorities in agitating and pushing for the restructuring of this country, and we have a president today whom we believe will support this cause.”

Speaking on President Tinubu’s performance so far, the retired military officer acknowledged that some of the President’s policies have caused hardship for Nigerians, but argued that these measures are necessary for the country’s long-term progress.

“He (President) started very well as far as we are concerned. People are feeling pains about some of the policies. But I believe, as a person, that what he’s doing is that he is laying a foundation for your future development and for good governance,” he said.

On the hike in fuel price, he added: “I’m sure he knows what to do. The pain is temporary. Very soon, the prices will come down. They are taking steps to ensure it comes down I believe.

On his part, Senator who represented Anambra Central in the fifth Senate, Ben Obi, described the deceased as a global citizen, recognised for his achievements and success story in every aspect of all endeavours.

Obi also expressed concern over the increasing poverty and hunger in the country, urging the government to take immediate action to address the situation.

He said, “It’s very painful. Nigerians are in agony. The poverty is so high, the hunger in the land is so much, and they keep inflicting more and more on this helpless and hopeless situation. I think the government really needs to sit down, because when a government is found wanting in honesty, then the government is likely to lose credibility and legality. What we are hearing, what we are seeing, is not good for the country.

“The government needs to do more than what they are doing now for the people because hardship is unprecedented and they are still doing things that will count, that will make the masses still go down. We are praying that some, some sense comes into the governance of this country.”

Former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief Simeon Okeke recalled his moments with the deceased during the Biafra war, describing him as a great philanthropist.