Father of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, community Eze Israel Okwu Kanu, is dead.
The late Eze Kanu is the traditional ruler of Afaraukwu autonomous community, in Abia State.
Eze Kanu’s death was announced, on Friday, by the traditional ruler of the neighbouring Okwulagha Afaraukwu, Eze Eddie Ibeabuchi, on behalf of the Afaraukwu Traditional Rulers Council.
Eze Kanu died three months after the death of his wife, Ugoeze Sally Kanu, who died on August 30, 2019 in a German hospital and she is yet to be buried. The news of Eze Kanu’s death, who was said to be in critical health condition at the time of the wife’s death, was confirmed by his second son and Kanu’s younger sibling, Emmanuel Kanu.
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In a reaction , the state government through the commissioner for information described the death as a rude shock. “It was with shock that we leant of the passing on of one of our great royal fathers , HRM Eze Sir I.O. Kanu, the Egwu Ukwu 11 of Afaraukwu Ibeku at the age of 86 years.”
“His unwavering love and sterling contributions to the development of his community in particular, and Abia State in general , are well documented. No doubt HRM left a lasting legacy and an indelible impression on the minds of Ndigbo everywhere in the world.”
He assured the family of the late monarch of support in the period of mourning.
Eze Kanu left the palace after the September 14, 2017 invasion of the palace by a troop of the Nigerian Army with his wife. But while the wife did not return alive, Eze Kanu returned and eventually died in Umuahia.
The death of the monarch came at a time the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was still bickering with the Nigerian authorities on whether he could attend his mother’s burial or not.
