The elders council of Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos state on Tuesday 30th June, excommunicated it’s former Chairman Chief John Uche indefinitely following what they described as direct plot to tarnish the good image and reputations of the incumbent President, Chief Solomon Ogbonna and the entire body for selfish gains.
The latest, came after the former chairman had accused the President, Chief Solomon Ogbonna of ascending the pinnacle height of the famous social cultural organisation from the south east region with a fake academic certificate.
According to the communique handed down to the press captioned “REACTION OF THE ELDERS’ COUNCIL OF OHANAEZE NDIGBO LAGOS STATE ON THE TRADUCEMENT, CALUMNIATION AND DEFAMATION REPORT BY MISCHIEF MAKERS ON CHIEF SOLOMON OGBONNA PRESIDENT OF OHANAEZE NDIGBO LAGOS STATE
AND
EXCOMMUNICATION OF CHIEF JOHN UCHE (AKPATI NSI EGBE) FROM OHANAEZE NDIGBO LAGOS STATE FOR ORGANIZED SABOTAGE AND ABUSE OF THE VALUES OF OHANAEZE NDIGBO LAGOS STATE.”
The excerpt of the communique reads in part;
“It is most unfortunate that we have been confronted recently with the publications of mischief makers and enemies of progress concerning the academic certificate of the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos state chief Solomon Ogbonna (Aguene)”.
“Ordinarily, we would have overlooked the publication because the points raised by the mischief makers were inconsequential, baseless and illogical. More so, their allegations were sentimentalized; not founded on proof and or evidence of facts.
However, we decided to react because it is always good to set the records straight for purpose of history and also to let the general public know the simple truth about (1) the Certificate allegation and (2) who actually the principal mischief maker is in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State”.
“We want to start by making it very clear that the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos state does not require academic certificate to lead Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State.
Which is why he never presented or tendered any certificate to any group because certificate is not needed to run the organization. What is required is speaking Igbo language Fluently, common wisdom, Intelligence, human relations and above all ALTRUISM. As you can confirm, the Man of the moment chief Solomon Ogbonna has given Ndigbo a very huge voice in Lagos state today. His personal touch to the lives of Ndigbo in Lagos state is second to none”.
Although the communique stated that it is unnecessary to join issues bordering on blackmail and distraction by those it described as “set of disgruntle persons”.
The statement further suggested according to them that the mischief makers have some explanations to make to the entire Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State concerning the source of the certificate they are peddling and carrying about to undermine the reputation of the president and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State at large.
“Having said that, let it be known that the principal mischief market chief john Uche who claims to be the founder of Ohanaeze in Lagos State was never the founder. Even if he was the founder, does it give him the impetus to demolished or set on fire the house he claimed to have built?That’s insanity of the highest order. John Uche the imposter was even excommunicated by Prof. Ben Nwabueze, the then Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide before chief Nzewi became the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State. And John Uche remained excommunicated from all Ohanaeze Ndigbo activites Worldwide before chief Oliver Akubueze took over from Nzewi. Records has it that Chief Oliver Akubueze went to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Headquarters Enugu several times pleading tirelessly on behalf of John Uche before Enugu granted Chief Oliver’s request and release John Uche from excommunication bondage.”
According to the excerpts from the communique, the reasons John Uche was then excommunicated were linked to extortion, indiscriminate installation of kingship (Eze) in Lagos State, embezzlement of Ohanaez.
