By Jude Onyenedogha
A Sister in-law to late Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (younger sister to his late wife, Lady Eudora Iwuanyanwu), Princess Faith Gilbert has expressed overwhelming satisfaction at the magnitude of befitting burial given to the late President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Princess Gilbert, popularly known as Achalaugo made her feeling known while fielding questions from newsmen during the outing service of the deceased, at the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew, Atta Ikeduru LGA of Imo State, Sunday.
“To be frank, I don’t think I have witnessed this magnitude of burial. I don’t believe that any President, Governor or Statesman could be given this magnitude of burial. The burial was very very successful. People flew in from all over the world and it went peacefully. There was no kidnapping, no incident of anybody passing out or being killed, so I thank God for the successful burial.
“He was more than an icon, more than an Iroko tree. He was just a complete package. It will take more than lifetime to enumerate his legacies. He was a very generous and kind man, who loved humanity. He trained thousands of people in university.
“He empowered so many people, he helped the poor, including widows. He was also a truthful man, who did not play with God, as you can see a mighty, beautiful, modern, model Cathedral he singlehandedly built for Ikeduru Diocese, he championed and contributed enormously to the building of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (CATOL), Owerri”.
Princess Gilbert also mentioned the Imo Airport which the Ahaejiagamba was said to had contributed over 80 percent towards its realization, adding that he built an empire of businesses which employed thousands of Nigerians and even foreigners, in addition to being a political juggernaut, who empowered many politically across Igboland and beyond.
Princess Gilbert who willingly fielded questions from newsmen throughout the week long burial activities/ceremonies, in an emotion laden voice, intermittently shedding tears, kept reemphasizing the; love, care, kindness and training bequeathed on her and her siblings, even extending to her kindred and village.
She added: “He came into my life when I was three years old, after getting married to my sister. He took me and my younger brother, Daniel and sister Ndidi as his children. He raised us from childhood through all levels of education, to adulthood”.
On the possibility of finding suitable replacement for Dr. Iwuanyanwu as a rallying point for the Igbos, the Princess posited that it will be very difficult, but expressed optimism in God’s ability to make the impossibility possible.
She disclosed how Iwuanyanwu planned to travel round the world in his passionate effort to promote the cause of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as he wanted to do many things for the Igbos, having already strengthened all the organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, including the youth wing, thereby making Ohanaeze Ndigbo more popular than ever.
