Inadvisability Of Using Power Struggle In Ohaneze Ndigbo To Tarnish The Image Of Ndigbo 

An organization’s cultural dynamics either work for it, in such a way that the organization is moved towards success or work against it, like holding the organization back from achieving its desired results. Referencing several available researches on some of the world’s top-performing organizations, they are made up of people who think and act in ways that are aligned with achieving the organization’s goals.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is therefore surprising to observe that some members of Ohaneze Ndigbo that are based in Lagos State are thinking and acting in ways that are not in any way aligned with aims and objectives that necessitated the establishment of Ohaneze Ndigbo as a socio-cultural organization.

For the sake of clarity, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a non-partisan, non-sectarian pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization designed to provide a platform where Ndigbo, within and outside Nigeria, may come together for the purpose of nurturing better understanding and harmonious relations amongst themselves, with other ethnic groups in Nigeria, and with all communities wherever they reside. Its membership is individual and corporate. Beside direct individual membership Ohanaeze Ndigbo is an apex umbrella of various Igbo communities and interest groups. Also, it serves as a clearing house and a focal point of direction and collective leadership in matters affecting the interest and general welfare of Ndigbo in Nigeria and the rest of the world. Peace and fraternal love with all, especially our Nigerian compatriots, has always been a cardinal goal of Ohanaeze.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo was founded in 1976. The founding fathers include great and revered leaders like Dr. M.I. Okpara, Chief Dennis Osadebe, Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe, Chief M.I. Ugochukwu, Dr. Pius Okigbo, Chief Jerome Udoji (the first Secretary-General), Prof. Ben O. Nwabueze, Ezeogo Dr. Anagha Ezikpe, Sir Onyeso Nwachukwu, Chief Bob Ogbuagu and the indomitable Dr. Akanu Ibiam (the first Chairman, in whose Enugu residence the first meeting in 1976 was held).

As contained in the headline of this piece, the question, “What is power struggle?” cannot in any way be said to be a misnomer. However, power struggle, as defined by lexicographers, is “A situation where two or more people or organizations compete for influence. A power struggle ensues, and the winner is the person who makes his structure prevail.”

Analyzed from the foregoing perspective, there is no denying the fact that Ohaneze Ndigbo has been dragged into the quagmire of power struggle if recent disagreements or rancor in the socio-cultural organization in its Lagos branch is anything to go by.

For instance, the story that surrounds Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos Chapter, as a socio-cultural organization, and which has been trending online is that the facts are now in the open on how Chief Sunday Ossai was allegedly swindled millions of Naira by an Igbo group, known as “Mafians”, in order to be crowned as the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State, which has now turned to be a hoax.

As gathered, according to the summation by the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, the alleged scam on Chief Ossai started after a group of thugs invaded Ohanaeze Ndigbo General meeting at Calabar Hall in Surulere, Lagos. The ignominious incident was reportedly led by Eze Uche Dimgba who attempted to disrupt the meeting over the valid consent judgment of the Lagos High Court by the warring parties, which ended the lingering crisis inherited by the current President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief Aguene, over the years after he was elected.

The group was said to have hired both Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State members and non-members and organized a kangaroo election, where Chief Ossai was declared the President of the apex sociocultural group.

It was also gathered that while the tenure of Chief Solomon Aguene was yet to elapse, the group went and organized an election and declared Chief Ossai as President after he reportedly parted away with huge sums of money including money for purchase of forms for other aspirants, which ran into millions of Naira.

It was gathered that after the election, with Chief Ossai being declared as the winner, he was not able to gain access to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariat located at James Robertson Street, Surulere, Lagos.

As if the humiliation was not enough, Chief Ossai and his executives having been sworn in, later realized that they have no office, from where they would operate and function as the executives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it then dawned on them that they had actually goofed and had been swindled by getting involved in the non-existing positions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State.

It was learnt that Chief Ossai, having realized that there was a valid Court judgment, which extended the tenure of Chief Solomon Aguene, the only option left for him was to operate as parallel Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, which many of the traditional rulers and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State are not comfortable with and have dumped him to his fate.

Amid the cloudy situation, particularly as Chief Ossai could not be reached to throw insight to the situation, the PRO of his group later issued press statements stating that they have been elected and the Igbo should deal with them as the new executives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State.

Be that as it may, by virtue of the consent judgment pronounced by the Lagos State High Court dated 12th April, 2022, Chief Solomon Ogbonna will now spend the next four years as the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State.

It would be recalled that in the suit filed in 2018 before the Ikeja High Court over the annulment of Ohanaeze Ndigbo election, Lagos State, by a faction led by Chief Mike Chidedelu on behalf of his group against Chief Solomon Ogbonna’s faction, asking the Court to reinstate and recognized his faction, it was finally resolved with terms of settlement as consent judgment before the Court.

Part of the judgment include, apart from Chief Solomon Ogbonna, who was retained as the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, other Executive members elected with him were dissolved and fresh election was ordered for the vacant positions by the Court.

The Court directed that the Electoral Committee set up by Chief Solomon Ogbonna led by Chief Oliver Akubueze be retained and conduct election for both the Local Government and State Executives with the bylaws of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State.

This was confirmed by Chief Solomon Ogbonna, who expressed delight that peace has finally returned to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State, through his efforts to bring the Igbo together in the State.

He explained that since he was elected as President, he had been going to Court and many factions came up but he was able to resolve and make peace that led to the consent judgment at the Court.

In a media parley with Eze Uche Dimgba, he explained that it is impossible to have an extension for an Ohanaeze President because it runs contrary to the group’s constitution.

Eze Dimgba said that Ohanaeze legal experts led by Former President, Barrister Fabian Onwughala, have been briefed and had set up the process of vacating what he called the ‘Kangaroo’ Tenure Extension Judgment in Court. Dimgba said Chief Aguene’s tenure will elapse on 15th July 2022.

However, the Court has not set aside the judgment and his tenure is yet to elapse before Dimgba and group were said to have organized an election, where Chief Ossai emerged as President of the faction.

Without much ado in this piece, I am expressing my view that the ideals of Ohaneze Ndigbo should not for whatever reason be dragged into the mud through power struggle by just few people in Lagos state. They should find a way of making peace rather than portraying Ndigbo as power-hungry people. Aptly put, no one should use the inglorious instrument of Power Struggle to tarnish the image of Ohaneze Ndigbo, and by extension the entire Ndigbo in Lagos State.

Sandra Ijeoma Okoye (Author)