By Athan Agbakwuru
Elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has advised Nigerians to always demonstrate the spirit of brotherhood and religious tolerance in order to safeguard the nation’s unity and corporate existence.
He gave the advice while addressing the national leadership of Inter-Faith Youth Council of Nigeria (IFYCN).
It was at the presentation of the 2022 InterFaith Youth Council of Nigeria Outstanding Peace Award to him as an “Icon of National and Societal Development” in his office in Owerri, Imo State capital.
The frontline industrialist and publisher of Daily Champion Newspapers enjoined Nigerian leaders to eschew religious bitterness, acrimony and hate in the conduct of their official and personal activities in whatever positions they find themselves in the society.
According to him, the founding fathers of the country built the foundation of Nigeria on love, peace, harmony and mutual tolerance which led to the rapid development of the nation when the colonial masters left the country.
Engr. Iwuanyanwu, who is the chairman of Ohanaeze Ndígbo Elders Council, urged the youths to emulate the spirit of the founding fathers of Nigeria which centred on peaceful coexistence, religious tolerance and love pointing out that “no nation or society develops in an atmosphere of suspicion and intolerance.”
The Ohanaeze chieftain, who bemoaned the increasing spate of killing, kidnapping, and unrest in the country blamed the ugly trend on lack of positive orientation of the youths as well as lack of job opportunities among other socio-economic challenges. Presenting the 2022 InterFaith Youth Council of Nigeria Award to Chief Iwuanyanwu, the President of the Association, Ambassador Tunde Adams, said the award was in recognition of Chief Iwuanyanwu’s unalloyed commitment and unequal contribution to peace and human development as an outstanding distinguished personality in Nigeria.
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Mr Tunde Adams described Chief Iwuanyanwu as a man of peace and excellence, an indisputable Nigerian flag weaver, a quintessence of good leadership who has given so much to the empowerment of the youths in Nigeria and beyond. He said that he is a man whose didactic personality is pedestal upon which the vision of Nigeria as a nation can be realized.
The IFYCN President said that at a time when Nigerian youth are facing deprivation and relegation from national scheme of affairs, Chief Iwuanyanwu has continued to exhibit youth friendly disposition, humane care to all who come to him as well as to display unmatched nationalistic leadership style that has given the youth a renewed hope as leaders of tomorrow.
The youth leader maintained that Chief Iwuanyanwu symbolizes the apt saying of late Sardauna of Sokoto Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory in which he said that “if men of wisdom will refuse to write justice with black ink on white paper, ignorant men will lead and wrath injustice and anarchy in the land.”
