By CHARLES IWUOHA

The apex lgbo Socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has advised Mr Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, the erstwhile Acting National Youth Leader of the body, to stop parading himself as Ohanaeze Youth Leader.

This was contained in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, in Enugu.

According to Ogbonnia, Okpalaezeukwu had long been directed to revert to his position as the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Youth Wing, but he kept parading him as Acting National Leader of Ohanaeze Youth wing.

“The directive was contained in a letter to Okpalaezeukwu, dated July 24, by Amb. Okey Emuchay, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

“In asking Okpalaezeukwu to revert to his position, Emuchay admonished; “you are aware that there exist positions above you in the hierarchy of the organization, but you were granted a privilege to act as the Youth Leader for several months”,” Ogbonnia said.

He recalled also that the immediate past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had written a letter of reinstatement as the National Youth Leader to Mr Damian Okafor, after an official visit to Ebonyi State.

“The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze was astonished that even after Okpalaezeukwu has been relieved of the position of the acting National Youth Leader, it appears that another “Ohanaeze” monster has been created,” he said.

Ogbonnia alleged that on July 30, Okpalaezeukwu invaded the National Headquarters of Ohanaeze Ndigbo with thugs who hit and maimed all that stood their way.

“Above all, the Okpalaezeukwu and his misadventurers destroyed and desecrated everything that is held sacred in the Ohanaeze Secretariat. His anger is a delusion and a wild misconception that he will act as a youth leader in perpetuity.

“Such unruly, unscrupulous, despicable, odious and sacrilegious conduct by Okpalaezeukwu has been reported to Governors of Imo and Anambra States Sen. Hope Uzodimma and Prof. Chukwuma Soludo respectfully.

“He was also reported to the Enugu State Director, Department of State Services, and the Enugu State Police Command, among others but Okpalaezeukwu has defiantly continued to parade himself, falsely and conceitedly as the Acting National Youth Leader.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is Damian Okafor Okafor who emerged through a democratic process on Aug. 5, 2021,” he stated.

He pointed out that the election that produced Okafor was keenly contested after accreditation of delegates from the seven Igbo speaking states of Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states.

He added that Okafor who hailed from Ebonyi state defeated 3 contestants to emerge the National Youth Leader in the peaceful election.

The publicity secretary further said that Emuchay was therefore, alerting the unsuspecting public that Okpalaezeukwu had been declared a persona non grata; unfaithful, unworthy, unfit and maladjusted to the core values of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

“The general public are by this press release advised to distance themselves from Mr Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu on issues pertaining Ohanaeze in their own interest.,” he warned.

Meanwhile in a statement signed by Okpalaezeukwu and five others titled “Our Position On The Attempted Intimidation And Abuse Of The Youth Wing” said the youth wing passed vote of no confidence on Okafor.

According to them, 23 out of 24 members of the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide, unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on Okafor.

They further alleged that the former Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, subsequently suspended him indefinitely.

The group added that they were surprised how a letter alleged to have emanated from the office of Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide-Amb. Emuchay, stating that Okpalaezeukwu had been removed and Okafor reinstated, without our knowledge nor due process.

“We bemoan such act of sabotage and outright abuse on the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and its Youth Wing and we unequivocally maintain that the act of the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is null, void and of no effect,” they said.

When contacted, the factional Acting national youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu dismissed Alex Ogbonnia’s claims, saying he remains the youth leader.

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