Following a recent controversial leadership succession election, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze, is pitched into crisis as the result comes under contention. NAMDI MBAWIKE tracks the substance and genesis of the crisis.
When the immediate past President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue finally agreed to bow out on January 12th to pave way for the election of the new executive of the body the sameday, many believed that the crisis rocking the apex Igbo Social Cultural Organization had been laid to rest.
Prior to Uwechue’s resolve to bow out, prominent members of OHANAEZE accused him of attempting to frustrate the election of his successor in order to prolong his tenure which commenced in 2008. Besides the allegation of tenure elongation, Uwechue was also accused of financial impropriety as well as attempting to bypass due process during the new election by some aggrieved members of the social cultural organization.
Little wonder, when the election finally took place on January 12, 2013 at the OHANAEZE Secretariat in Enugu, apostles of peace heaved a sigh of relief as they thought that a new dawn had come for the social cultural organization.
With the caliber of people who attended the election, many concluded that the Igbos have spoken with one voice and that the crisis has finally been nipped in the bud. Who is who in Igboland including former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof Joe Irukwu; former Anambra Governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Senator Uche Chukwumerije; Chairman of the South-east council of traditional rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya;, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke; former Health Minister, Prof A.B.C., Nwosu; Elder Bob Ogbuagu; former Ohanaeze President-General, Eze Ozobu; former Secretary General, Joe Achuzie; Prof Anya O. Anya; Leader of the MASSOB, Ralph Uwazurike; Amb. Eddy Onuoha, among others attended the January 12 election.
Surprisingly, few minutes after the newly elected officers were inaugurated by Justice Ozobu, his nephew, Prince Richard Ozobu, who served as the secretary to the electoral committee called the January 12 election a sham and vowed to conduct a fresh election in Ebonyi State.
In a statement he issued after the election, Prince Ozobu said no elections envisaged by the Ohanaeze Constitution took place, adding that it came to his notice that some Igbos were hurriedly invited to “what was duped as an election by text messages on the 11th of January, barely twenty (20) hours to the so called elections”.
“My attention has been drawn to activities that took place at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu yesterday, Saturday, the 12th of January, 2013 purported to be ‘Elections ‘.
“As Secretary to the National Electoral Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, established by Imeobi Ohanaeze, the only organ with inherent powers to do so, as an independent body mandated to organize and conduct elections at various levels of Ohanaeze from Local Government to the
National Executive level, I hereby inform Ndigbo here and Worldwide that no such elections envisaged by the Ohanaeze Constitution took place.
“It came to my notice that some Igbos, including a very few Igbo leaders, were hurried invited to what was duped as an election by TEXT MESSAGES on the 11th of January, barely twenty (20) hours to the so called elections.
“I, as the Secretary of the Committee is the only person by virtue of my office, who has the responsibility to issue notices, after all conditions for any elections had been met. For that of Election into National Offices, Notice is mandatory through two National Daily News Papers, and such notice would only come after all due process needed to conduct a free and fair election had been accomplished.
I did not issue any notice for such election. To the Contrary, I issued a well publicised press release that the election for that 12th had been put off to the original date it was scheduled, that is the 19th 0f January, that date also being the date requested and approve by Imeobi, for the National election” the statement reads in parts.
He explained that the reasons for shifting the election from 12th to 19th of January were , “late return of completed appraisal forms by the contestants, Incomplete delegate lists as results of State elections were still coming in, Non resolution of many petitions against the conduct of State elections from where national delegate lists are obtained, Non screening of contestants standing for elections particularly those against whom there are serious accusations, especially members of the current National Executive Committee who are contestants, Poor logistic support, No publicity whatsoever as envisaged by the Ohanaeze Constitution, No provision yet for voter ID cards and voter verifications to avoid use of non delegates for the election, Non provision at that point for Candidate profile to enable the delegates make assessment and good judgement on casting their ballots, the need to ensure a fair election by establishing a Level playing ground for all contestants since we have upto the 19th of January approved by Imeobi”.
He emphasized though that the only meaningful exercise in the12th January assembly in the Ohanaeze Secretariat was the DISOLUTION OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE announced by the President General, Ambassador Raph. Uwechue.
“In essence, a total executive vacuum has been created and the only Standing authority recognizable in Ohanaeze Secretariat is This Electoral Body for which I am now fully responsible for. This is so because the National Executive Committee representative on the Committee and the Chairman is automatically out of office position by the dissolution of the body he represents”.
He, therefore restated that the National Ohanaeze Election Fixed for Saturday, 19th of January 2013,” shall hold as scheduled”. But, while preparations were going on for the parallel election; An Enugu High Court gave an interim injunction restraining Prince Richard Ozobu from conducting any further election to elect officers of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.
The court order, signed by the Director of Litigation and Courts Division, V.A. Aneke, in the court of Justice C. I. Nwobodo, had stated that, “upon an application by motion on ex-parte brought pursuant to Order 30 Rules 1,3, (2)(3) of the High Court Rules, 2006 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the honourable court dated January 16, and filed the same day, supported by an affidavit of 33 paragraphs sworn to by Mrs. Selina Ugwuoke-Adibuah, written address and exhibits 011-002,” the order was made.
The court said that after hearing the submissions of Sir O. A. U. Onyema, counsel to the two plaintiffs with Mr. I. M. Olunkwa and Ebeke Christopher and upon considering the facts contained in the affidavit, exhibit and written address ordered as follows: “An interim injunction restraining the defendant whether by himself, agents, privies or by whatsoever or whomsoever from conducting any further election to elect any other person as officers of Ohanaeze Ndigbo outside those elected on Saturday 12th day of January 2013, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“An interim injunction restraining the defendant whether by himself, agents, privies and servants from further making public statements or announcements or by text messages on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Election Committee 2013, pending the determination of the motion on notice”. The court adjourned the case to January 30 for hearing of the application.
Although Prince Ozobu vowed to go on with the Ebonyi election on the ground that he was not aware of the injunction, he later decided to respect the order when he read it on the pages of newspapers.
Perturbed by the sad developments in OHANAEZE Ndigbo, South East Leaders including governors of the zone announced last Sunday that a committee had been set up to resolve the leadership crisis in the apex Igbo Social Cultural Organization.
The committee, headed by the Senator Ben Obi, was mandated to look into the problems of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Peter Obi , who made the announcement after a meeting of the South East leaders in Enugu, disclosed that the committee was also asked to find out ways of making OHANAEZE Ndigbo stronger.
Obi, who is also the governor of Anambra State, told newsmen that the leaders resolved that all cases regarding OHANAEZE pending in court should be withdrawn.
“We just finished a meeting of the South East Political Leadership with some eminent people, we discussed the issue of Ohanaeze Ndigbo which is a very strong body that is holding all of us together.
“In the end, we set up a committee to look the problem and how to make OHANAEZE stronger, that committee is headed by Senator Ben Obi and other members.
“We also resolved that all issues that are pending in court regarding OHANAEZE, we appeal to all those involved for the sake Igbo people to stop the cases in court and stop further statements”.