John ODHE, Yenagoa
Igbos resident in Bayelsa state under the umbrella body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo are currently embroiled in crisis over an alleged embezzlement of N3.3 million donated by the state governor, Senator Douye Diri and 2,000 dollars donated by the defunct Baraza Multipurpose Cooperatives Society.
The alleged pilfering of the said funds has polarized the Igbo group into two factional groups with each laying claims to the leadership of the pan Igbo sociocultural organization in Bayelsa.
One of the splinter groups is led by one Chief Remigius Ekwuem, who claims that the faction led by one Mr. Johnson Onuma had been suspended for allegedly embezzling the organization’s common wealth.
On the other hand, the Onuma led faction said it was the Ekwuem led group that was excommunicated from the Igbo community activities in the state after a stakeholders’ meeting held on July 14, 2022, adding that Chief Chinedu Ugwa, Mr Patrick Emeka Ugwu and other members were among those excommunicated, describing them as impersonators of Igbo leadership in Bayelsa..
Meanwhile, Ekwuem, while featuring in a live radio programme in Yenagoa on Saturday, said it was his group that was recognized by the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, noting that a letter from the national leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo which was signed by the national publicity secretary, Dr. Chiedozie Ogbonnia authorized him to serve as the Acting President of the group in Bayelsa state.
Ekwuem maintained that in the letter sent from the national body of the business oriented ethnic nationality, it was stated that he and his executive members had paid an affiliation fee of N250,000 to the central body which, he said, was a precondition for the recognition of any branch of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide.
He further alleged that Mr. Johnson Onuma, while he served as president of the state branch, could not give proper account of a N1.5 million donated to the group by the state government and 2,000 dollar donated by Baraza for the 2021 Igbo Day donated which did not hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and insecurities in the country.
He insisted that the alleged misappropriation of the group’s funds led to the suspension of Onuma and his Exco members.
“We are only telling him (Onuma) to come and do account for us. Our monies are still with him. Our money is not supposed to be with him. We have a treasurer.
