The body of Ndi-Eze at a conference in Lagos clarified while debunking rumour over factional leadership of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation in Lagos.
The body declared that there was only one Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo President in the state in Chief Sunday Ossai, the constitutionally recognised Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo President in the State.
Speaking at the conference, Eze Ndigbo Ikosi/Isheri, Eze Ambassador Remi Anyamele who is also the Secretary General, Council of Ndieze Lagos State and Eze Nicholas Njoku Eziokwubundu, Eze Ndi-Igbo of Ejigbo, clarified that “there can never be two presidents because the single term of four years tenure of office, for the erstwhile president of the organization, Lagos State Chapter, has ended and the constitution of Ohanaeze does not allow tenure elongation for any position whatsoever”.
They stated that Ossai was elected to office as the President of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Lagos State Chapter in 2022 and had asserted that he had all it takes to lead Ndi-Igbo in Lagos.
The conference according to them became necessary in order to make clarification on who had the legitimate right to move the social cultural organization forward. They said the conference was also to refute claims by anyone parading himself as the leader of the organization.
According to the group: “The consent of court cannot be binding on Ohanaeze because Igbos don’t rule through the court but utilize the appropriate channels of conflict resolution which entail the people and their heads coming to an agreement through dialogue”.
On their part, Chairman of Chairmen, Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Lagos State, Chief Mike Orji; South West Coordinator of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Everest Ozonweke and Secretary General Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Lagos State Chapter, Chief Robert Obasi, pledged their allegiance to the leadership of Chief Ossai whom they confirmed to be their authentic president. They stated that the Ime-Obi which was the highest organ of Ndi-Igbo had chosen him.
They said: “Chief Ossai’s legitimacy as president of the organisation in Lagos, is hinged on the fact that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who took up the mantle of leadership after the death of the former President General, late Professor George Obiozo has come to Lagos on more than two occasions to confirm Chief Ossai as the de facto president in Lagos.”
Responding to questions on true leadership, the group’s recognised leader, Ossai, said: “a leader is someone who takes risks for others and who sees himself as a servant to those he is leading, and he is an embodiment of that”.
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