Jidechukwu Iwuanyanwu, eldest son to Late Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the immediate former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a recent post, attributed his father’s passing to complications following a visit to Nnamdi Kanu at the DSS facility. In his claim, Jidechukwu posited that his father Iwuanyanwu, who was 82 years old, was made to walk for about 20 minutes during his visit to Kanu. It is therefore very important to approach this claim with caution and objectivity.
Chief Iwuanyanwu is a well-respected elder across the globe from the eastern part of Nigeria; the 82-year-old statesman must have been blessed with good health but not without some challenges that ordinarily come with age.
Attributing his death to health decline from a 20-minute walk within a facility is highly speculative, because the high chief is well informed and much more aware of his deteriorating health issues, especially as he advanced in age.
Chief Iwuanyanwu was indeed a respected leader; his indisputable advice has helped in reshaping long-term policies that worked for peace and development, not only in the South East, but the nation at large. His passing should not be politicized; rather, his legacy should be honored towards fostering the unity and progress for N’digbo, the South East, and Nigeria through meaningful dialogue. One of his legacies is the just approved establishment of the South East Development Commission, which he advocated for, aimed to promote dynamic infrastructural development and sustainable economic growth in the South East region and also to address the appalling legacies of the Nigerian Civil War while tackling emerging challenges and laying the roadmap for a more secure and prosperous future for the South East.
Jidechukwu calls for Kanu’s release in line with his father’s advocacy, national security concerns could also be considered on its merit. The Federal Government has maintained that Kanu’s legal process should run its full course, as his case involves terrorism allegations. However, striking a balance between the Federal Government's legality of Kanu’s criminal case and Nigeria’s corporate existence of the country is a move Tinubu’s administration should make since this is an inherited situation from the previous one.