The controversy trailing the endorsement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, took another dimension on Thursday as police barged into the National Executive Meeting (NEC) meeting of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.
It was gathered that the meeting holding at the National Secretariat, GRA Enugu, had gone midway when the embattled Secretary-General, Uche Okwukwu, barged into the meeting with about 30 armed policemen.
The sudden invasion reportedly created tension at the emergency meeting, which was deliberating on issues of national importance and allegations of misconduct leveled against Okwukwu.
Despite the invasion, members of the NEC did not budge, insisting that Okwukwu must respond to the allegations against him without police presence.
Okwukwu later acceded to the position of the NEC and presented himself for questioning while the policemen were asked to stay outside.
It was further gathered that the NEC posed nine questions to the Secretary-General and he responded to all of them.
After the meeting, Uche Achi-Okpaga, the National Publicity Secretary announced the suspension of Okwukwu.
Achi Okpaga recalled that in the last three days, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr. Uche Okwukwu has at various fora, engaged in false representations of the decisions of meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Imeobi Ohanaeze.
He said Okwukwu has also arrogated to himself the power of the organs of Ohanaeze by altering positions purportedly taken by these organs which are patently and obviously false.
Achi-Okpaga said, “These deliberate actions were discussed at Thursday’s emergency meeting of the NEC on 31st January 2019.
“These actions having taken place in the public domain and reported copiously in the mass media, the NEC, in an overwhelming majority decision after confronting Barrister Okwukwu has resolved as follows:
“That Barrister Uche Okwukwu is from this day, Thursday, 31st January 2019 suspended from the office of Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and membership of all organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“That having personally attended the emergency meeting and denied some of the allegations against him, is hereby given seven days to retract and publish same in the media, failure of which the matter will be referred to the disciplinary committee for further inquiries and appropriate action and subsequent referral to Imeobi for final decision.
“In the prevailing circumstance, every member of Ohaneze branches and affiliate bodies are advised in the meantime to take note and desist from dealing with barrister Uche Okwukwu as the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,” Achi-Okpaga said.
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