Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths butt heads with parent body, reject reinstatement of expelled youth leader
There’s a significant clash brewing within Ohanaeze Ndigbo as the youth wing and the parent body face off. The youth wing has rejected the Acting President General, Amb. Okey Emuchay’s decision to reinstate their previously expelled leader, Engr. Damian Okafor, and they have made it clear they won’t work with him.
The tension escalated after Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, the national publicity secretary, labeled their acting leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, a “fraudster and impostor” in a recent statement. This move has further fueled the disagreement.
In response, the youth wing held an emergency meeting where they criticized Emuchay’s unilateral decision. They argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze never met to approve the reinstatement of Okafor, calling the action illegal.
The youth wing issued a statement saying: “Our attention has been drawn to a press release from Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, who unjustly declared Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu a ‘persona non grata’ and a ‘fraudster.’ We believe this is unfounded, and Emuchay’s actions appear to be driven by personal vendetta.”
They also accused Emuchay of obstructing the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and declared him “persona non grata,” effectively banning him from the National Secretariat.
In addition, the youth praised the resilience of Igbo youths for staying out of nationwide protests and emphasized the need for local leaders to tackle ongoing issues in the South East. They also expressed appreciation for the South East Development Commission’s efforts towards reconciliation and development, hoping it will bring positive change and address the region’s challenges.
