This designation signifies that Mr. Okpalaezeukwu is no longer deemed suitable to represent the organisation due to his perceived unfaithfulness, unworthiness, and maladjustment to Ohanaeze's fundamental values.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, an Igbo socio-cultural organization, has formally disavowed Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, erstwhile Acting President of its Youth Wing, characterizing him as persona non grata.
This designation signifies that Mr. Okpalaezeukwu is no longer deemed suitable to represent the organisation due to his perceived unfaithfulness, unworthiness, and maladjustment to Ohanaeze's fundamental values.
However, the Ohanaeze Youth Wing has faulted the pronouncement.
In a public disclaimer issued on Wednesday and signed by National Publicity Secretary Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide advised the Nigerian public to take note of the notice. The organisation warned that any interactions or transactions with him pertaining to Ohanaeze matters would be undertaken at one's own risk.
Furthermore, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide announced the reinstatement of Mr. Damian Okafor as the National President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, thereby replacing Mr. Okpalaezeukwu in this position.
The statement partly read: "The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide wishes to inform the general public that Mr Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, the erstwhile acting National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has long been directed to revert to his position as the Secretary- General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Youth Wing.
"The directive was contained in a letter to Okpalaezeukwu, dated July 24, 2024 by Ambassador Okey Emuchay, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
"In asking Okpalaezeukwu to revert to his position, Emuchay admonished; ‘you are aware that there exist positions above you in the hierarchy of the organisation but you were granted a privilege to act as the Youth Leader for several months’.
"It is worthy of note that, earlier before the letter to Okpalaezeukwu, the former President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had written a letter of reinstatement as the National Youth Leader to Mr Damian Okafor, after an official visit to Ebonyi State. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze was also briefed."
The statement stated that the NEC of Ohanaeze was astonished that even after Okpalaezeukwu had been relieved of the position of the acting National Youth Leader, "it appears that another ‘Ohanaeze’ monster was created.
Ohanaeze regretted that on July 30, 2024, Okpalaezeukwu, in a combined character of a "wounded lion and a bull in the China shop," invaded its National Headquarters with thugs.
"The hoodlums hit and maimed all that stood their way. Above all, the Okpalaezeukwu and his misadventures destroyed and desecrated everything that is held sacred in the Ohanaeze Secretariat. His anger is a delusion and a wild misconception that he will act as a youth leader in perpetuity."
The organisation insists that the “National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is Mr Damian Okafor”, adding that he “emerged through a democratic process on Thursday, August 5, 2021”.
“The election that produced Okafor was keenly contested,” it said.
But reacting in a communique issued shortly after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing held at National Secretariat, the youth arm insisted that Okpalaezeukwu was still their leader.
The communique which was read by its publicity secretary, Chika Art-Adiele, was endorsed by 23 out of 24 NEC members of the Youth Wing.
The group said until an election is held to elect another leader of the group from Ebonyi State, Okpalaezeukwu will remain their acting national leader.
The resolutions partly read: "That Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu remains the Ag. National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as unanimously elected by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, ratified and confirmed by both the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by President General, and Ime Obi Ohanaeze Ndigbo (the Highest Decision Making Body as recognised by the Constitution); and this Authority subsists until an elected Youth Leader of Ebonyi State Extraction emerges.
"We therefore pass a vote of Confidence on our indefatigable Ag. National Youth Leader - Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu; and hereby reaffirm our implicit Solidarity and Support.
"We bemoan the reckless statement of a supposedly Elder in the person of Mazi Alex Ogbonnia, who ordinarily should reign in on Okey Emuchay, to accord our dearest departed father and Hero a befitting honour and reverence, before the tussle of usurping and exercising the Powers of President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Emuchay in this instance, is in a frolic of his own, chasing personal vendetta.
"The NEC never met to take any of the alleged decisions in his write up. In fact, Alex was not present in the quoted meeting as he was said to have traveled to America and it is from there that he writing based on hearsay.
"The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo lacks the Powers to remove and/or replace any executive officer; therefore Emuchay's attempt to unilaterally remove the acting National Youth Leader- Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, after collecting millions from his Pay Masters to dance naked in the market place, violated the Ohanaeze Constitution and must be checked.
"We are aware of the records of Financial misappropriation by Okey Emuchay, both in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Administration and South Africa, and his sabotage against the release of our brother Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who has been unjustly held. We are convinced that Okey Emuchay and Cohorts are enemies in the House.
"We hereby declare Okey Emuchay Persona non grata, and therefore Bar him from entering the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, henceforth."