Ohanaeze laments death of Ndubuisi Kanu, Onyeabor Obi

Pan Igbo cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is “highly devastated” by the news of the sudden death of its two prominent sons; Rear Admiral Ndubisi Kanu (Rtd) and Sen. Onyeabo Obi, describing it as a chain of catastrophe very painful to bear.

A statement signed by Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, said that Admiral Kanu was a member of the Supreme Military Council (PMC) in 1975 under General Olusegun Obasanjo. At the creation of Imo State in 1976, he was appointed the military administrator of Imo State where he made indelible footprints.

“As a robust thinker, he engaged the service of town planners to prepare a master plan for Owerri metropolis; built durable roads and was instrumental to increasing the number of local government areas in Imo State to 21, the statement said, adding, “Among his legacies is the Imo Broadcasting Service, which went on air in December 1976.”

According to the statement, “In 1977, Kanu was appointed the Military administrator of Lagos State. Due to his impressive records, Kanu was promoted to the enviable rank of a Rear Admiral and subsequently, the Chief of Naval Staff before his retirement.

“At retirement, Kanu founded the RANGK LTD, a maritime consultancy. He was a chieftain of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) a pro-democracy movement that played a leading role in the agitation for the actualization of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

“Kanu at various times expressed profound passion for his people by playing several stabilizing roles in Ohanaeze Ndigbo.  He was very jovial, personable but firm and courageous in his convictions. Throughout his career history, Kanu remained untainted and exemplary. We are devastated because Ndigbo and Nigeria will miss his disarming intellect and wise counsel.

Senator Onyeabo ObI (82) a Lawyer and graduate of the London School of Economics, England. He was a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1979-1983. He followed his family tradition in the love for the Igbo nation. His father, Chief Z C Obi was the national leader of the Igbo Union before the Nigerian civil war. He served as the President of the Otu-Oka Iwu, Lagos-a body of Igbo prominent lawyers. During the 1994 National Constitutional Conference, Senator Obi worked assiduously with the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Emeka Ojukwu and many others to produce an Igbo position paper.”

“Like Kanu, the sagacity and outspokenness of Senator Obi will be missed,” the statement noted.