A crack has hit the Igbo think-thank group, Alaigbo Development Foundation, ADF, with Emeritus Prof Uzodinma Nwala announcing the suspension of the Board of Trustees members of the group such as its chairman, Bishop Obi Onubogu, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie, among other members of the group.
Nwala’s action came barely 10 days after Awuzie was elected new President of ADF in an election conducted and supervised by Prof. Barth Nnaji, Bishop Onubogu, Mazi Ohuabunwa, among other leaders and members of the group.
Nwala said the offences of Ohuabunwa and co range from “conducting a show of shame called the election; refusal to respect intervention and advice of some elders, and organising a criminal attack and break-in into the secretariat of ADF in Enugu.
But in a swift reaction, the new secretary-general of the group, who was the chairman of the Publicity Bureau of ADF under Nwala, Abia Onyike said Nwala has no power to suspend any member of ADF because he was no longer the president of ADF.
“You can see from the document he circulated that he now claims to be the Chairman of ADF Congress but there is nothing like that in the ADF Constitution. He wanted to remain in office for life before we decided to conduct the election on April 6, 2024. He was ADF President for 10 years and had dissolved all the offices by himself for the elections to take place. So, what is he complaining about?” Onyike said.
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Nwala, however, insinuated that there were external factors outside the ADF that propelled the BOT and other members to revolt against him, lamenting that the election that toppled him was conducted while he was hosting guests, including ADF leaders, at his home in Imo State in honour of his daughter’s traditional marriage.
Nwala stated: “The Elders of ADF had ruled against any election on this date to show respect to Prof Uzodinma Nwala, who had meritoriously led the ADF for10 years, as well as served the Nigerian State and Igbo nation in worthy roles and initiatives most of his life.
“The Elders had proposed the election to be held on April 11, 2024. But these men in their bid to satisfy their interests and those of their sponsors would not respect any limit because they believe that Nigeria is a lawless country.”
