Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed the father-son relationship between him and the late President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who, he said, took him as a son, mentored him and organized several prayer sessions for him during the difficult moments of his presidency.
Jonathan, who spoke in Abuja at a service of songs organized by Iwuayanwu's family and friends to honour him, said the late newspaper publisher began treating him as a son long before he (Jonathan) became the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.
"He took me as a son even before I became Deputy Governor in Bayelsa and mentored me to to the time I became president," he said.
The former president, who was welcomed to the podium with a standing ovation from the congregation, said Iwuanyanwu showed him enormous goodwill in his political career, having also mentored him right from the early days.
Noting that the deceased was in the same Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as him and contested the presidency three times without luck, Jonathan said the predicament did not stop Iwuanyanwu from showing love and support towards his presidency.
"We are not here today just to mourn, but to celebrate our father who led a good life and rendered meritorious service to his community and nation, and surpassed the biblical average life-span of three scores and ten. He was a very active politician and very dear to me," he said.
On his part, a former Governor of Imo state, Chief Achike Udenwa, described Iwuayanwu as a great patron who mentored so many politicians.
Some dignitaries at the event, held at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, included former Presidents of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara, Ken Nnamani, and Anyim Pius Anyim.
Others were a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, and Deputy Governor of Imo State, as well senior clerics, top politicians, diplomats and religious leaders.
The late Iwuanyanwu was a civil engineer and into construction, founder of Champion Newspapers, Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club and Chairman of Oriental Airlines as well as Oriental Shipping Lines.
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A Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic CFR, he also had the traditional title of Ahaejiagamba of Ndigbo, and was until his death the President-General of apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Iwuanyanwu, who had lost his first wife, Eudora, in 2011, died on July 25, 2024 at the age of 81 and is survived by his second wife, Frances, and seven children.
