The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has suspended the Special Adviser to Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri on Non-Indigenes Affairs Onuma Johnson and two other leaders of the group over alleged anti-Igbo activities.
The acting President of Ohanaeze, Bayelsa chapter, Chief Remigius Ekwem, said the suspension of the three persons from the activities of the group was part of the decision by stakeholders and leaders of the group to ensure that the interest of the Igbos is well protected in Bayelsa.
Speaking with journalists in Yenagoa on Wednesday, Ekwem maintained that there was only one recognised Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa and across the eight local government branches of the State.
He gave the names of other suspended leaders of the group as Chief Ernest Uzoefunam and Chief Wilfred Iyeanagoro.
He said Uzoefunam was suspended as Chairman, Igwe-in-Council, and Wilfred relieved from his position as the Patron of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa State.
He alleged that they did not play their fatherly role in the crisis rocking Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide (Bayelsa State Chapter) and that they took sides instead of showing concern and ensuring that peace reigns in the group.
“When a leader is not living up to his obligations, the exco deems it necessary to suspend him, then as a good leader after the suspension, he should find a lasting solution to the issues that led to his suspension,” Ekwem stated.
The South-South Coordinator, Ohanaeze Youth Wing, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, said it was unbecoming of some leaders in Ohanaeze to work against the interest of the people that elected them.
He said: “As a national officer, when I saw the issues going on, I tried to be neutral, in the sense that we the national leaders will not go into the matter without knowing the facts and when I tried to settle the matter, the same group misunderstood me.
“The executive suspended him (Onuma Johnson) but instead of serving his suspension, he went and suspended the executive that suspended him. My advice to him is that he should serve his suspension and plead for forgiveness.
“Whoever that tries to undermine the powers of the national leadership’s directives is against Igbos, and anybody or group that does that should be taken as an enemy of the Ndigbo.”
Reacting to his suspension, Johnson said that the executive members of the body did not have any powers to suspend a fellow executive member.
“It’s the general assembly who voted people into leadership position that can suspend him following the constitutional process,” Johnson stated.
