Azuka Benson heads Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK transition committee
By Adodo Osewengie
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has inaugurated a transition committee to run the affairs of her UK chapter on an interim basis.
The Igbo sociopolitical organization in a statement issued by the newly inaugurated transition committee Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Azuka Benson, and Dr. Bennet Onwuzurike, respectively, noted that the constitution of the transition committee became sacrosanct as it is the only option available to salvage the chapter from degenerating into a comatose after her November 20 election to elect new executives was marred with irregularities.
According to the statement, the General House of the sociopolitical organization comprising of Ndigbos in the United Kingdom under the auspices of the Ohanaeze met in London on the 11th of December and took a resolution to inaugurate the transition committee to pilot the affairs on the interim pending when all issues arising from the elections have been resolved.
“The general house acknowledges the widespread outcry of Ndigbo in the UK and takes cognizance of the numerous irregularities that marred the Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK, Nov. 20, 2021 election.
“The general house adopts in its entirety the independent opinion and advice of the Forum for the Advancement of Igbo Race (FAIR), over the numerous irregularities that flawed the purported election as detailed in the referenced document.
“The general house notes specifically that contrary to the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK, only two delegates were allowed to vote from preselected Ohanaeze Affiliate Member Organisations, (AMOs), clearly disenfranchising others under trumped-up allegations that the AMOs are splinter groups of State Unions.
“Taking cognizance of these irregularities, the general house unanimously agrees that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK election of Nov. 20, 2021 is repugnant to the constitution and convention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
“It is also repugnant to the culture of Ndigbo which has recently been adjudged to be the cradle of democracy.
“The general house unanimously declared election unconstitutional, null and void and consequently appointed a five-man transition committee which was immediately inaugurated by the general house.
“The committee will manage the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK for an interim period of three months, with a mandate to advise and conduct a credible election,” the organization added.
As part of the resolutions reached by the General House, the five-man transition committee has Dr. Azuka Benson as the Chairman, Dr. Bennet Onwuzurike, Secretary, Chief Charles Anyanwu, Mazi Chris Dike, and Mazi Uche Kay as members.
Furthermore, the General House issued a directive mandating that all properties of any kind belonging to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK chapter be handed over to the Dr. Azuka Benson transition committee while imploring the women and youth wings of the chapter of their unalloyed support to the leadership of the newly inaugurated transition committee.
The transition committee pledged to work assiduously to ensure it repositions the Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK chapter to the expectations of all, noting that with the full support of the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and other well-meaning indigents of Igbos in the United Kingdom, the chapter will attain a feat, carving a niche in the global comity of Ndigbo.
