The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu and the apex igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, have expressed grief on the passage of the chairman of the Management Committee of Ariaria International Market, Aba, Elder Emeka Igara.
He died at the age of 74.
Recall that late Igara was part of the prayer meeting held earlier on yesterday at the Ariaria market with Governor Ikpeazu where he suddenly developed signs of illness and was rushed to a nearby hospital in company of his two sons who were present at the prayer meeting.
However, while mourning the foremost late Aba-based business mogul and the chairman management committee of Ariaria International market in Aba, Governor Ikpeazu consoled the members of the Igara family, the executives and traders of Ariaria Aba, and all friends and associates of the late Emeka Igara.
He spoke in a condolence message issued to journalists by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka on Saturday afternoon.
Ikpeazu who was deeply distraught on receiving the news on the shocking demise of Emeka Igara, prayed almighty God to grant the deceased eternal rest and as well, grant the entire Igara family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
On its part, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Saturday, grieved on the unfortunate death of the chairman of management committee of Ariaria international market, Emeka Igara.
The Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, in a statement on Saturday, extolled the exemplary and outstanding virtues of the deceased while alive.
The pan-igbo organization noted the immense contributions and ideas, and also the uncommon roles of late Emeka Igara in economic development and stability of Abia state, entire southeast and Nigeria, which according to Ohanaeze, earned him numerous appointments including current appointment as the chairman of the Management Committee of Ariaria international market, Aba until his death.
While also eulogizing the sterling human qualities and contributory roles of the deceased in the development of Abia State and nation-buliding, Ohanaeze further grieved that late Elder Emeka Igara died at a time his vast and rich wealth of experience lofty ideas and wise counselings are also needed towards consolidating numerous of monumental giant strides achieved by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration in the past seven years in Abia State.
According to the Igbo ethnic nationality organization, “ohanaeze ndigbo call on the Government of Abia state to immortalize late Emeka Igara for his patriotism and unquantifiable sacrifices. A Line in Ariaria international market should be named after the deceased. And we equally want to use this medium to call on the state government to honour this great gentleman with a organized befitting burial interment for his supportive sacrifices which has impactfully complemented the effort of government in the actualization of Enyimba Economic City, the development of small and medium-scale business enterprises, and current global patronage of made-in-Aba products through local manufacturing and production”.
Continuing, Ohanaeze further declared a four days mourning to be observed in honour of late Elder Emeka Igara, while directing business shop owners in Ariaria international market in Aba, to downtool all activities and business transaction within the mourning periods to accord last respect to the late chairman of the management committee of Ariaria modern market.
The apex Igbo group however, consoled the Igara family, the Government and people of Abia State on the shocking demise of this worthy igbo son, while praying God to grant the deceased peaceful rest, and offer the late Elder Emeka Igara family the fortitude to bear the huge loss.