The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief George Obiozor is dead.
The Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodima who made this announcement Wednesday, noted that the sudden demise of the erudite scholar was a big blow to the people of Imo state in particular and Nigeria at large.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Imo State, I, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, sorrowfully announce the passage of a great Son of Imo State and Nigeria, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, worldwide, Prof George Obiozor.”
“A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat, a statesman and a tenacious patriot, Prof George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness.” Uzodinnma said in a statement confirming Obiozor’s death.
It would be recalled speculations were rife that the President-General of the socio-cultural group of people of Igbo extraction in Nigeria, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief George Obiozor was dead.
Indication to this effect came to light on Tuesday as several online media outlets reported that the 80-year-old retired diplomat from Awo-Omanma in the Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State passed on after an undisclosed illness.
Reacting to the report, the Group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, while addressing memebers of the press disregarded the information, saying Obiozor was very much alive.
In another twist, a highly placed chieftain of Ohanaeze had confirmed to journalists that Obiozor died on December 26th.
The chieftain said the apex Igbo body would not announce Obiozor’s death until his family makes the announcement.
“The man is dead but it’s not in our tradition to announce such death even when we have such information. We allow the family members to make such an announcement.
“He died on Monday of heart-related disease. I’m not specific about where he died but he travelled abroad and returned to Lagos.
“I was called in the early hours of December 26th that he died in the early hours,” the source had earlier said.
