Ohanaeze blasts Buhari for mocking Amaech in death

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently under heavy criticism over his comment on the death of elder statesman and First Republic Minister, Mbazulike Amaechi.

Amaechi died on Tuesday morning at the age of 93.

However, his death has kept tongues wagging owing to the failure of the Federal Government to honour his last wish, which was the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

However, reacting to his death, President Buhari in his condolence message by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, recalled his encounters with Amaechi in Abuja and Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

He recalled Amaechi’s words saying: “I don’t want to leave this planet without peace returning to my country. I believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa. Mr President, I want you to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and you quenched the fire.’

The president said the deceased was a man of wisdom, honesty, and frankness.
He said the former minister’s advice on the situation in the Southeast and the way forward would be missed.
Buhari’s eulogy on Amaechi has now attracted more anger, with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide describing it as “crocodile tears.”

The National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said Amaechi’s death was devastating.

He told Daily Post, “his death is most devastating because he died with a most unfulfilled wish. No matter how you look at it, he did not die a happy man.

“He begged President Buhari to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to him but Buhari did not oblige him. It is cruel of the present administration. This is the last surviving minister of the First Republic, but his wish could not be granted.

“Now the same President is reminding us how Amaechi’s words resonate, how he wished for a peaceful South-East and Nigeria in general. But the same Buhari government made sure that his wish never came to pass.

“So, to us, the entire youths of Igbo land, Buhari’s condolence message is a mockery of Ndigbo; the presidency is smiling over our misfortune, over the loss of an iroko in Igboland.”