The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, a premier Igbo socio-cultural organization, has formally disavowed Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, erstwhile Acting President of its Youth Wing. It says Mr. Okpalaezeukwu no longer represents the organization due to his alleged maladjustment to Ohanaeze’s fundamental values.
In a public disclaimer issued on Wednesday and signed by the National Publicity Secretary Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze advised that any interactions or transactions with Okpalaezeukwu pertaining to Ohanaeze matters is at personal risk.
Ohanaeze also announced the reinstatement of Mr. Damian Okafor as the National President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, thereby replacing Mr. Okpalaezeukwu in this position.
The statement elaborated on the circumstances leading to Mr. Okpalaezeukwu’s removal, including his failure to revert to his original position as Secretary-General of the Youth Wing despite directives from the organization’s leadership.
The organization emphasized that Mr. Damian Okafor is the legitimate National Youth Leader, elected through a democratic process on August 5, 2021.
The statement reads in part: “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide wishes to inform the general public that Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, the erstwhile acting National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has long been directed to revert to his position as the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Youth Wing.
“The directive was contained in a letter to Okpalaezeukwu, dated July 24, 2024 by Ambassador 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 organisation, but you were granted a privilege to act as the Youth Leader for several months.
“It is worthy of note that, earlier before the letter to Okpalaezeukwu, the former President General, 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 of Ohanaeze was also briefed.
“Ohanaeze regretted that on July 30, 2024, Okpalaezeukwu, in a combined character of a wounded lion and a bull in the China shop, invaded its National Headquarters with thugs.
“The hoodlums hit and maimed all that stood their way. Above all, 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 … conduct by Okpalaezeukwu had been reported to Chairman South East Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State Sen. Hope Uzodimma; his host Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State; the Enugu State Director, Department of State Services, and the Enugu State Police Command, among others.
“Most unfortunately, Okpalaezeukwu has defiantly continued to parade himself … as the Acting National Youth Leader.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is Mr. Damian Okafor. Okafor emerged through a democratic process on Thursday, August 5, 2021. The election that produced Okafor was keenly contested.
“The election commenced with the accreditation of delegates from the seven Igbo speaking states of Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states. Okafor, who hails from Ebonyi State, defeated three contestants to emerge the National Youth Leader in the peaceful election.
“However, there was a rift amongst the Youths which dragged for a long time. In 2023, the Youths appointed an acting Youth Leader in the person of Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu from Anambra State. The NEC, which was led by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, adopted Okpalaezeukwu with a caveat that he was to act pending when the rift in the youth wing was settled.
“… Okpalaezeukwu has remained a huge challenge, even after the highest authority of Ohanaeze has directed Okpalaezeukwu to revert to his former position…
“The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, and the NEC, therefore, alert the unsuspecting public … to distance themselves from Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu on issues pertaining to Ohanaeze, in their own interest.”
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with Mr. Okpalaezeukwu were unsuccessful, as he did not take his calls or respond to text message inquiry as at the time of filing this report.
