Some key members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State chapter have been suspended for allegedly trying to topple the leadership pan-Igbo cultural organisation in the state.
Those suspended include the suspected king-pin, Chief Ruben Nwakor, a retired army colonel who until his suspension was its Ikorodu Central L.C.D.C. chairman; the Assistant Financial Secretary, Henry Nwanze; and the Chairman Kosofe Local Government Area, Ethelbert Okeke.
Other affected members include the acting state Secretary; Chief Osita Nweke, Vice Chairman Mushin Local Government Area, Chidi Umunakwe and the acting state Public Relations Officer, among others.
Speaking after the disciplinary committee has finished its deliberations, the President of Lagos chapter of the organisation, Chief Sir Nnamdi Nwigwe, said that at this point of history, Ndigbo needs unity and not distraction.
He said that with some eminent senior Nigeria citizens like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Edwin Clark, Alhaji Balarabe Musa among others joining in the clamour for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, Ndigbo themselves must not be spanner in the wheel of the project.
According to him, those who were suspended knew that there are processes to leadership.
“Chief Nwakor failed election in another faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo here in Lagos. He came here begging and we accommodated him and made him the chairman of Ikorodu central LCDA. But as it is said that a leopard can never change its skin colour, within a short time of accommodating him, he and some disgruntled elements began to plan against the leadership to the extent of saying that he has overthrown the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and announcing himself as the President, as if Ohanaeze is a military,” Sir Nwigwe said.
In his contribution, the chairman of the five-man disciplinary committee, Chief Chukwukariri Emmanuel, said that Nwakor and his gang were suspended in accordance with the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
According to him, the leadership of the current Ohanaeze Ndigbo under Sir Nnamdi Nwigwe would not tolerate betrayers.
He said that they are determined to move the Igbo nation forward.