From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Crisis rocking the Cross River State Chapter of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo has continued to gather momentum as two factions are laying claim to the leadership position of the body.
While a faction claims that the incumbent President, Ugoji Nwabueze, Esq, Ugoji and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ben Ayade on Non- Indegene Affairs, Ugoji Nwabueze, Esq, is no longer the leader of the Apex socio-cultural organisations as he has been sacked for alleged misconduct, the Ugoji faction kicks, describing it as unconstitutional and cannot hold any water.
There has been no love lost between Ugoji and some members of the the organisation for quite a while, but it got to a head following a meeting held at the Obi Eze Ndigbo residence in Calabar on Saturday, March 20, 2021where an interim leadership emerged for the body.
The interim leadership has Prince Agwu Nwokedi,
SSA to Governor on Ethics & Norms, as Chairman while Remi Agwuezie, Esq, as secretary general of the caretaker committee, Ohaneze Ndigbo Cross River State Chapter.
And in a statement signed by the duo and made available to journalists in Calabar shortly after the meeting, they said their singular task is to singular task to usher in a Substantive Executive through credible electiom which comes up on May 8, 20
They expresed worry at the activities of Barr. Ugoji Nwabueze, the immediate past President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, who after the formal dissolution of the entire executive since December 12, 2020 has been issuing out circulars and press releases in the name of Ohaneze to embarrass the Igbo.
According to them, “these unrestrained activities of the former president is inimical to the collective interests and/or well-being of the entire Ndi Igbo in the state and it is a gross abuse of office. Thus, his indefinite suspension from being a member of the group.”
Warning members of public to desist from dealing with Ugoji and his team, they maintained that there is only one indivisble organisation under their new leadership.
kicking against the purported meeting and dissolution, Ugoji nwabueze, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Non Indegene Affairs (Igbo) insisted that he is still the President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Cross River State just as he still enjoys the respect and good will od the people nationally.
Maintaining that any meeting called and not authorised by me to the extent of not having my approval is illegal null and void, Ugoji said: “Ohanaeze constitution has no provision for interim nor caretaker committee. So, any one or persons parading themselves as such remains a product of illegality.
“The said meeting of March 20 was not authorised by me and canot be a proper meeting of Ohanaeze and so any decision enanating there to is null and void. Ohanaeze State meetings has never and can not hold in the private home of a deluded self acclaimed chief.
The South East Traditional Rulers Council, by an overwhelming decision in its widely circulated advertorial published in Sun Newspapers of early October, 2018, banned the use of the title of Eze Ndi Igbo in diaspora.
“It described the said title as impositotry, malicious, vexatious, offensive and Insulting to the Traditional rulers. It advised desiring to be coronated as such to go home and be so coronated. And Ohanaeze, Cross River chapter has in compliance to the directive with the said title,” he stated.
He advised the Igbo in Cross River State to once more pursue their legitimate duties and stay away from unapproved organisations capable of creating breach of public peace.
