Tributes have started pouring in for the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor. The death of Prof Obiozor was announced on Wednesday by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma
The cause of his death is unknown, but reports have it that Prof Obiozor had been battling ill health.
Jonathan, Atiku, Obi eulogise Obiozor
Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness over the passing of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and former Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States Professor George Obiozor. He described his death as a huge loss to the nation.
Dr. Jonathan in a condolence message to the Obiozor family and the Government and people of Imo State recounted Obiozor’s contributions to the growth and development of the nation.
“Professor Obiozor was a great patriot whose love for the nation and his people knew no bounds in his selfless service towards the unity and development of our country. He was an accomplished diplomat, globally acclaimed scholar, and prolific author with a reputation for charming intellectualism and boisterous engagements in international relations and academic research,” Dr. Jonathan stated.
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar in his reaction described Prof Obiozor as a charismatic personality. He said the late Ohaneze leader was a consummate diplomat who believed in consensus and had a stabilising influence.
Atiku added, “The Igbo nation will miss him. The whole nation will miss him. Though of Igbo extraction, he was accepted among other leaders and stakeholders in different parts of the country. He will be dearly missed for his voice of wisdom and reason, which is needed at this crucial time of our socioeconomic and political evolution. His was a purposeful life well lived.”
Also, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi said he is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Obi said Prof. George Obiozor “was a dear elder brother and friend, a patriot, renowned academic and diplomat, who served Nigeria and Ohanaeze selflessly and diligently.
“He was witty, well-heeled in history, and effusive in his charm and warmth.
“The death of this foremost Igbo leader is a huge loss to the entire Obiozor Family, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Nigerians in general.”
The Chairman of the Anambra PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Ben Ndi Obi said the death of the President General of Ohanaeze is a heavy loss to the Igbo nation.
Senator Obi said Prof Obiozor was one of the finest, refined diplomats to have come from Nigeria with a touch of academic excellence.
“He was an intellectual powerhouse, an idea bearer, and an accomplished statesman of our time. He loved the Igbo course and was at the forefront of the pursuit to give the Igbo man his due place in the socio-economic and political standing in Nigeria,” he said.
He said the Professor will be dearly missed especially at these trying times when Nigeria requires his intellectual solutions to the common problems bedeviling the progress and growth of the country.
Prof George Obiozor is from Imo state, South East Nigeria.
He was born on August 15, 1942, and died on December 26, 2022, at the age of 80. He was a Nigerian professor and diplomat who was the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States.
Obiozor was director-general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. He later became Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Cyprus, before becoming ambassador to Israel, from 1999 to 2003, then ambassador to the United States, from 2004 to 2008.
Obiozor was elected as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on 9 January 2021a position he held till his death.
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