Ohanaeze President-General Obiozor Is Dead

The President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor, is dead. 

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma confirmed the news in a statement he personally signed late on Wednesday.

There has been speculation of the health status of the former diplomat in the past few days.

The statement by Uzodimma reads: "On behalf of the government and people of Imo State, I, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, sorrowfuly announce the passage of a great son of Imo and Nigeria, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Worldwide, Prof George Obiozor.

"A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat and statesman and a tenacious patriot, Prof. George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness.

"The death of this foremost Igbo leader and former Nigeria's ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel, is a big loss to Imo state, the Southeast and the entire Nigeria. 

"I have no doubt that both Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues.

"His burial arrangements will be announced in due course by the family.

"May his great and gentle soul rest in peace."