“Compelling  Iwuanyanwu To Walk For Over 20 Minutes To Visit Kanu At DSS HQ Fatally Affected His Health”  – Son

By Gideon Njoku

The first son of late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Jidechukwu, has given an inkling into what, perhaps, finally, led to his father’s passing.

Iwuanyanwu, politician, philanthropist, business mogul, entrepreneur, was the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide when he passed. He was aged 82 at the time.

While the cause of his death which seemed sudden to a number of people, except, perhaps, family, remained a subject of speculation, and at best, attributed to old age, his son, Jidechukwu has given an inkling into what may have finally contributed to it.

In a statement he released from Glass House, the Headquarters of his father’s business empire in Owerri, on Monday, January 10, Iwuanyanwu jnr. revealed that the ordeal his father was subjected to in a bid to see detained Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at his detention facility at the Headquarters of the Department of State Security, DSS, was a major contributing factor.

Jide revealed that the visit to Kanu at his DSS detention facility was his father’s last outing.

Briefly stating what transpired, Jidechukwu said inspite of his father’s age and fragile health, the late statesman was not allowed to be driven to the DSS Headquarters. He disclosed that Chief Iwuanyanwu was, therefore, compelled to walk for over 20 minutes to see the IPOB Leader.

Back home after that visit, Jidechukwu said his father complained of the toll on his heart. He, thereafter, collapsed, and was rushed to the hospital from where he never came back alive.

He also revealed that his father, while in the hospital, worried about the continued detention and prosecution of Kanu. He, therefore, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to honour the memory of his late father by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He insisted that Kanu’s problem would only be resolved politically.

Jidechukwu’s words in the release:

“My dad’s last outing was to the DSS facility to see Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He was made to walk for over 20 minutes as they didn’t let him drive in to see Kanu. Undettered, my father sojourned on to see Kanu, and had a father, son moment with Kanu. On returning home, my father complained of his heart and retired to his room to rest. The next morning he broke down, and was rushed to the hospital. He was at the hospital till his death. While at the hospital he was still fighting for Kanu’s release and the realization of South East Development Commission for the betterment of ‘Ala Igbo’. I’m sure if he were alive he would have been happy to see one of his wishes come true”.

He added that   Kanu’s release will not only bring peace to the security-challenged South-east Zone but also end the Monday sit-at-home which has destroyed the Regions economy.

Jidechukwu: “I use this opportunity to urge the Federal Government to not let my father’s death be in vain, for his wish to be granted in releasing Mazi Kanu, which will also bring peace to our nation, and to Igboland”.

Chief Iwuanyanwu passed om July 26, 2024.

Kanu’s case was adjourned indefinitely on February 10, 2025, by the trial Judge, the House Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. Kanu rejected continuation of his trial by Nyako, insisting that on his request, the Judge had refused herself from his case.