The NEC of Apex Igbo socio cultural organization, ‘Ohaneze Ndigbo',
on Sunday, waded into an alleged suspension of the national leader of the youth wing,
Engr Damian Okafor, who was allegedly suspended on Saturday, 25th of September, 2021 by some of his colleagues.
Speaking to Newsmen on the issue in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital. The state Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr Peter Mbam said that the National Executive and the President of
Ohaneze Ndigbo world-wide, Prof. George Obiozor has been notified of the issue and will
soon be resolved.
Mbam said that the leadership of Ohaneze was equitably zoned to the seven state that it has members, noting that the position youth leader was zoned to Ebonyi State and no can shortchange the state in the name of suspension.
The Chairman vowed that the NEC will see to the resolution of anything that may have caused rift in the youth wing of the organization, stressing that the suspension will not stand.
Meanwhile, the embattled National youth leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo world-wide, Engr Damian Okafor have responded to his alleged suspension from office.
In a press statement he personally signed and forwarded to Ebonyi Times WhatsApp, reads;
"It has become so imperative that I address the public over the unsuccessful mutiny, insurrection and putsch meted against my office. In every story, there are three sides; Your side, Their Side and The truth. Only the truth can save.
"We were elected on 5th of August and inaugurated on 20th of August upon which we received our certificate of return and the charge to which we are to operate. Among the charges Prof. Amb. George A Obiozor gave us was that on no account should we insult the Igbo leaders especially the Governors because they are the pillar of Ohaneze Ndigbo. He also let us be in the know that we are the wing of the parent body and must subscribe to the vision and mission policies of the parent body. After the Inauguration, we had meeting and I gave everyone opportunity to air his or her view. Thereafter, I gave them 100k from my pocket to share and took care of the bills of all they consumed at the meeting.
"My youth EXCOs suddenly started behaving as though we should run a parallel government with the parent body. They started reneging on those words cum charges our President General gave us. First they picked on Governor Hope Uzodimma and there was nothing they did not say against the man. I condemned it and they turned against me.
"The day President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR came to Imo State, I was invited and I choose to carry them along. I paid for their hotel accommodation, the food and drinks they took because we hadn't any money. While we were there, one of them wrote on his Facebook and our NEC WhatsApp platform that Buhari came to commission the grave of Igbo Youths he massacred in Imo State. I condemned it and they started attacking me.
"The one that degenerated to this crisis was when the same Nnamdi Odoh and others at large started attacking Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State. I couldn't bear it and I have to exit the NEC platform because they no longer discuss any meaningful things there. They started gathering against me.
"The day the want to hold meeting outside my consent, I called the PG and he directed that no such meeting should hold. They went ahead and disobeyed him and issued their purported statement.
"Ohaneze Ndigbo is a socio-cultural organization not a socio-political organization and the constitution is there as a public document. It is only the Ime Obi that has the powers to suspension or sack anyone. They should know their bounds as not to usurp, arrogate or lay claims to the powers of the Ime Obi which is the highest decision making body of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
"Sad to note that the impact of their insult to the Governors has affected Ohaneze Ndigbo adversely to the point that the Governors has refused to support the Organization which led to somewhat cancelation of Igbo Day Celebration. Think of how you will feel when your son is insulting you and you have to pay the child's school fees. It is this same Governors that they are prevailing on me to write to them so that they will go on courtesy call and make millions of naira. To me, we must restore sanity among ourselves before going to meet any Governor.
"While I call for calm over the uprising hoping that the relevant authorities will handle it, I want the general public to know that they cannot gain anything insulting their leaders especially the Governors. There is always a decent approach towards correcting a seating Governor. By virtue of Ohaneze Ndigbo constitution, only the Ime Obi can suspend or sack. They just succeed in making me more popular".
The press statement which was endorsed by
Mazi Chika Art Adiele, the
National Publicity Secretary and made available to Newsmen on Saturday, 25th September, 2021, reads;
"SUSPENSION OF ENGR DAMIAN OKAFOR AS NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER AND RATIFICATION OF ONWUASOANYA FCC JONES AS ACTING NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER
"The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide - Youth Wing wishes to abreast the general public and relevant authorities of some developments within the Wing, as follows;
1. "That following a properly convened National Executive Committee meeting of the Wing, a vote of No Confidence was passed on the former leader of the wing, Engr. Damian Okafor, and he was consequently suspended indefinitely.
2. "This suspension was predicated on the following misdeeds;
a. Gross Misconduct
b. Gross Incompetence
c. Public Embarrassment
d. Dishonesty
e. Abandonment of Duty
f. Dereliction of Duty
g. Disrespect to other NEC members
h. Violation of the Constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide
I. Absolute lost of confidence on his leadership by NEC members.
3. "That in line with the Constitution of the apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Worldwide, that the National Deputy Youth Leader, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones is ratified by the NEC as the Acting National Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide-Youth Wing.
4. "That out of 24 member National Executive Committee, 22 members voted in support of all the resolutions, viz; Vote of No Confidence on Engineer Damian Okafor and his indefinite suspension as Leader of the Wing and ratification of Onwuasoanya FCC Jones as the Acting National Youth Leader.
5. "That the Wing reasserts our unwavering loyalty and support to our parent body, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, ably led by our father, His Excellency Ambassador Professor George Obiozor - UGWUMBA.
6. "That the NEC also set up an eight man Committee to investigate the allegations against Engineer Damian Okafor and report back to the National Executive Committee, within two months, on further recommendations and findings. This Committee has Chief Arthur Ugwah, the National Financial Secretary, who will serve as Chairman and Comrade Akadiro-Orji Chisaokwu Phil, the National Ex-officio, as Secretary of the committee.
7. "That we advise organizations and individuals who may wish to have any dealings with Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide - Youth Wing to take note of this crucial leadership change and henceforth, stop dealing with Engineer Damian Okafor or any of his acolytes or representatives on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing", the statement ended.
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