From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo says the reported indefinite suspension meted on its youth leader, Mr Damian Okafor, since 2021 still stands and advised members of the public to avoid dealing with him on behalf of the organisation.
A press statement made available to newsmen in Enugu, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Youth wing, Mazi Chika Art Adiele, explained that the parent body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide and the NEC recognises the interim leadership of Ohanaeze Youth wing on acting capacity under Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu pending when a new youth leader will be elected from Ebonyi state.
In the press statement, Ohanaeze Youth wing wondered why Mr Okafor who is on indefinite suspension, should resurface at this point in time to claim the leadership of the Youth wing.
The statement read in parts, “Our attention has been drawn by a piece of publication which was signed by one Damian Okafor to be purported from Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing.
“Ordinarily, the Igbo youths worldwide under the Apex Leadership of Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, and indeed the entire NEC of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Youth Wing, would have chosen to overlook the infantile rambling of a village champion, but for the sake of concerned citizens, we will, for the last time put the record straight.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Damian Okafor, was elected alongside the 23 NEC members as the National Youth Leader as zoned to Ebonyi State,” it said.
The statement further stated that shortly after his election, the NEC began to witness alleged gross incompetence and monumental high-handedness towards the discharge of his duties, adding that several attempts to correct such actions were met with more brazen assaults on the collective psych of Igbo youths, hence the unanimous and painful decision by 23 members of the 24 NEC to suspend him on the 23 September 2021, INDEFINITELY.
“As power abhors vacuum, we immediately, appointed his Deputy, Mazi FCC Jones Onwuasonanya in Acting capacity pending the intervention of our parents body.
“Recall, that our former President General, His Excellency,Amb George Obiozor, God rest his soul, endorsed Mr Damian’s indefinite suspension and directed us to continue with our collective quest for the emancipation of our people from the clutches of retrogressive elements,” the statement said.
The statement further stressed that when Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu assumed office as President General.Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide in 2023, his administration upheld the leadership of the Youth wing by Mazi Okpalaezeukwu in acting capacity.
“When, His Excellency Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu MFR OFR CFR KSC, assumed office last year 2023 as the substantive President General, he requested for a meeting with the wing and in that meeting, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on the interim and with the unanimous vote of the NEC members of the Youth Wing, appointed the person of Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, as the Ag National Youth Leader to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, pending the emergence of an elected Youth Leader from Ebonyi State.
“As at today, no elected Youth Leader of Ebonyi extraction has emerged, therefore Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu remains the Ag. National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide”.
