From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
Some members of the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Friday gathered at the National Secretariat of the organisation in Enugu to express their support for the leadership of Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, on acting capacity.
They rejected the reinstatement of Engr. Damian Okafor as the National Youth Leader of the youth wing,vdescribing it as unconstitutional and plot of the Secretary General.
The group insisted that Engr. Okafor who was initially elected as National Youth leader in 2021, which paved way for Mazi Okpalaezeukwu to be elevated from his position as Secretary General to acting National Youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, pending when another National Youth leader will be elected from Ebonyi state, the home state of Okafor.
The Ohanaeze youths’ position came barely two days after the parent body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo said Mazi Okpalaezeukwu has been told to revert to his elected position as Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth wing as Engr. Okafor re-occupies the position as National Youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide.
But briefing newsmen at Ohanaeze National Secretariat,vlocated at No 7 Park avenue G.R.A.Enugu,vthe youths stressed the resolve to go on with Mazi Okpalaezeukwu on acting capacity as National Youth leader was a decision reached at their NEC meeting held on Thursday,cAugust 8, 2024.
The communique posted to The AUTHORITY newspaper read in parts, “That Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu remains acting National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, as unanimously elected by the National Executive Committee[NEC] of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth wing,ratified and confirmed by both the National Executive Committee[NEC] of Ohanaeze led by President General and Ime Obi Ohanaeze Ndigbo [the highest decision making body as recognized by the constitution] and this authority subsists until an elected Youth Leader of Ebonyi state extraction. We therefore pass a vote of confidence on our indefatigable acting National Leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu and hereby reaffirm our implicit solidarity and support to his leadership.”
The Ohanaeze Youths said that the NEC of the parent body never met to take any decisions to reinstate Okafor, at this critical period when the entire leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide is mourning the demise of the President General, Late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu,alleging that the plan to reinstate Damian Okafor was purely machinated by the Secretary General, Ambassador Emuchay.
The Ohanaeze Youths further stressed that the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Okey Emuchay lacks the powers to remove and/or replace any executive officer, therefore the attempt to unilaterally remove the acting National Youth Leader Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, violated Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitution.
Earlier in his press statement, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo [parent body]vworldwide, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, explained that Engr.Damian Okafor was reinstated as National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide aftermath of the visit of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General ,Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu,to Ebonyi state,before his death.
Meanwhile, in the 10 point communique, Ohanaeze Youths applauded President Bola Tinubu,the South East Governors,vMembers of the National Assembly and other stakeholders who contributed immensely for the establishment of the South East Development Commission(SEDC),vstating the creation of the commission marked the end of the Nigerian civil war.
“We are relieved that this shall beget us Reconciliation,vRehabilitation and Reconstruction and create the impact that shall put the civil war behind us”.
The Ohanaeze Youths said the envisaged civil unrest in Abia state can be avoided if the state government, more especially the legislature led by the Speaker Rt.Hon.Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa,will obey the Appeal court judgement by swearing in the recognised legislator of Aba North constituency, Hon.Aaron Uzodike, into the Abia State House of Assembly.
The Ohanaeze Youths urged Nigerians,especially the youths to adopt dialogue and resilience as a measure of finding solutions to the prevailing harsh security and economic situation in the country.
The 10-point communique was signed by 23 representatives of Ohanaeze Youth wing from the Igbo speaking states in Nigeria.
Among whom were Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu,in his capacity as Acting National Youth Leader, FCC Jones Onwuasoanya,Deputy National Youth Leader,Mazi Wencelaus Ogbonnia,Assistant National Youth Leader(Enugu state), Hon.Dike Chukwudi,Assistant National Leader(Abia state) abd Hon.Osita Ozalagba,Assistant Nstional Leader(Anambra state).
Others include Hon.cEmnanuel Mbadugha,the Assistant Secretary,Chief Chinedu Arthur Ugwa,the Financial Secretary,Mazi Ezeka Friday-Ex Officio(Ebonyi state),Mazi Desmond Arinze,the Delta state Youth Leader, Hon. Brenden NjeNje,the Imo state Youth Leader, among others.
