OHANAEZE LAGOS CRISIS DEEPENS AS STAKEHOLDER ALLEGES DECEPTION, QUESTIONS LEGITIMACY
By Clement Odum
The leadership crisis rocking the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Chapter has taken a new turn as a concerned stakeholder, Chief Uguru Kalu, issued a strongly worded press statement challenging the legitimacy of certain actors and alleging deliberate misrepresentation of facts within the organization.
In the statement made available to journalists, Chief Kalu accused “deposed leadership elements and their collaborators” of orchestrating what he described as staged appearances and calculated propaganda aimed at misleading stakeholders and the public.
Leadership Status Under Scrutiny
At the center of the controversy is High Chief Sunday Ossai, whom Kalu insists was duly removed in line with constitutional provisions and internal procedures of the Lagos Chapter.
According to the statement, Ossai “lacks both the constitutional authority and moral standing” to represent or speak for the chapter. Kalu described any continued public representation by Ossai as an act of impersonation and an attempt to undermine institutional authority.
Observers note that the dispute over leadership legitimacy has continued to polarize members of the Lagos Chapter, with rival factions presenting conflicting narratives.
Igbo Heritage Day Controversy
The statement also addressed the recently celebrated Igbo Heritage Day, alleging that Ossai neither attended nor supported the event financially, materially, or logistically. Kalu further claimed that Ossai took no action when legal processes were reportedly initiated to halt the celebration.
He argued that any subsequent attempt to claim moral authority over the event amounts to historical revisionism, insisting that “records do not lie.”
Alleged Unfulfilled Financial Commitment
Chief Kalu’s statement also referenced Chief Leonard Okafor (Oba Ojoto), alleging that he publicly pledged ₦3 million in support of Igbo Heritage Day 2025 during a retreat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in Enugu, but failed to fulfill the commitment upon arrival in Lagos.
The statement further suggested that attention was diverted toward what it termed legal maneuvering surrounding a controversial consent judgment, the details of which, according to Kalu, will be made public in due course.
Defense of Ubochi’s Role
In a significant portion of the release, Kalu defended the credibility of Ubochi, describing him as a longstanding stakeholder whose contributions predate the current crisis.
He claimed that Ubochi played a strategic role during the first dispensation of Solomon Ogbonna by facilitating introductions to key financial stakeholders, including the former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, which allegedly supported the successful hosting of the first Igbo Day in 2018.
Kalu also maintained that Ubochi chaired what he described as the first and only official public Igbo Day outing under Ossai’s administration.
Questions Over “Reunion” and Consent Judgment
The statement dismissed a recent “reunion” involving Ossai as a staged event allegedly orchestrated by Solomon Ogbonna. Kalu questioned the legal and moral consistency of suspending a president while allowing spokesperson activities to continue.
He further accused Ogbonna of misleading parties to secure a consent judgment, conducting electoral processes, collecting nomination fees, and subsequently presenting the judgment in circumstances he described as controversial.
Kalu alleged that parallel leadership structures were created contrary to the provisions of the same consent judgment being relied upon.
Call for Accountability
Concluding the statement, Chief Kalu emphasized that documented facts and legal processes would ultimately determine the outcome of the dispute.
“This is not politics. This is deception,” the statement read, adding that accountability cannot be indefinitely avoided.
Efforts to obtain responses from the individuals mentioned were ongoing at the time of filing this report.
The leadership tussle within the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Chapter continues to generate intense debate among stakeholders, with many calling for transparency, reconciliation, and institutional stability in the interest of the broader Igbo community.
