Prof. George Obiozor, the late president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was hailed as a patriot by the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere for dedicating his intellectual gifts to serving humanity on a global scale as well as within his native Nigeria.
Recall that the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had, on Thursday night, announced the passing away of Obiozor.
Afenifere’s national publicity secretary, Jare Ajayi, authorised a tribute on the organization’s behalf, mentioning Obiozor’s past positions as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States of America, high commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus, ambassador to the State of Israel, and former director general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.
He said, “In those various positions, Obiozor displayed admirable leadership skills, an inimitable scholarship and valuable diplomatese.
“Both at the time he served as the head of the NIIA and as the country’s envoy to the United States of America, Obiozor gave account of himself as a consummate scholar, an intellectual, a diplomat, and as a patriot.”
Ajayi stated that Afenifere leaders had cause to interact more closely with Obiozor through the instrumentality of the South and Middle Belt Leaders Forum of which the late scholar was a co-leader.
“At meetings of the SMBLF, the scholar, diplomat and stateman in Obiozor never failed to show whenever he contributed to any issue being discussed. He and other leaders in the Forum always demonstrated their desire to protect and promote the interests of their people.”
Ajayi, therefore, commiserated with the people of Awo-Omoma, Oru East Local Government area, Imo State Government and the Ndigbo as a whole as well as the Nigerian populace from among whom another leader has departed.