The Traditional Ruler of Mbaukwu Kingdom, and one of the pioneer directors of International Breweries in Onitsha, Igwe P. N Anugwu, has described as rumours, news making the rounds of his death, affirming that he is hale and hearty, enjoying his retirement.
Igwe Mbaukwu who made the clarification in an interview with Kpakpando correspondent, Udoka Nwokoye, during a community-based palliative distribution by the international Breweries in his Palace in Mbaukwu on Wednesday, 15th July, 2020, said he has been receiving wide range of calls concerning the rumour, from friends, cabinet members, top government officials, politicians and fellow directors at various multinationals, who called to confirm if he is still breathing.
Explaining further, the traditional ruler of Mbaukwu, noted that death is the ultimate end of all mortals, but wondered how some people would be delighted, fabricating lies and fakes news about their fellow human which he described as pandemic, worse than the dreaded Corona virus.
While thanking the International Breweries, the manufacturer of Hero Beer, Grand Malt etc, for their kind gestures towards the vulnerable, the monarch also revealed that he has not placed curse on those behind the fake news, but has rather been praying for mercies of God upon them, urging them to desist from such act which according to him, is capable of bringing down the wraths of the gods.
On his part, Chinyelugo Chuma Umunna, the Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Manager, International Breweries, Onitsha, described the monarch as one of their longest serving and pioneer directors of the multinational who has been contributing positively to shareholders’ fortunes in the Breweries.
He informed that their mission to Akabueze Palace, as part of their cooperate social responsibility, was to reach out to the people through community based framework, explaining that other methods they had applied did not yield desired result, but expressed satisfaction, that with community based initiative, lives of the vulnerable in the community will be touched .
He however described those spreading the fake news as rumour mongers, urging them to desist from such act capable of invoking the wrath of the gods, and maintained as a director at International Breweries and also a retired longest serving director with Julius Berger international, Igwe Mbaukwu should be seen as an elder Statesman who had contributed his own quota to national and regional development and deserves their daily prayers.
In a vote of thanks, the President-General, Mbaukwu Progressive Union, and Chairman CEO, Sir Global Resources, Sir Godwin Ozoemena Onyiluka, thanked the International Breweries for their humanitarian gesture which he promised, would be distributed to those it is meant for, particularly the downtrodden in the community and also for using community based framework to reach out to the citizens, while urging those behind the rumour of death of Mbaukwu revered king to repent of their sacrilegious act.
Among those in attendance on the occasion were Chief Emeka Nwokoye, Secretary Igwe in Council, Chief of Staff to his Majesty, Chief Osita Onyali, Chief Ugogbuzue a cabinet member, Chief Goddy Nwafor-obu, Personal Assistant to his Majesty and numerous other persons.
