Ezenta kicks as Ohanku Development Union Shops for Replacement

The Ohanku Development Union ODU has distanced itself with the statement credited to the President General, Chief Reginald Iroanya Ezenta, regarding the Union’s election slated to hold on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025.

Ohanku Ancient Kingdom, comprises three autonomous Communities of Ikwuorie, Ujuru and Okotoko, with the Development Union apex body leadership comprising all the affiliate branches within and outside Nigeria, including the home branch making up a National Executive Council (NEC) comprising of all branch Chairmen and Secretaries the home branch inclusive

The statement had while noting that the said election would hold as scheduled, resolved to adopt “the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ as a principle to replace all female aspirants with males.”

It would be recalled that, the ODU had in its meeting on 2nd January 2025, constituted an Electoral Committee headed by Engineer Okechukwu Williamson with Barrister Dinne Israel Chukwuemeka as Secretary, and the Committee fixed the 21st of April 2025 for election.

However, it took another dimension when one out of the expected three traditional rulers HRM Eze Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere gave a suggestion on 14th of April 2025 that the election billed to hold in 7 days time should be called off until the constitution amendment committee turned in their report.

The above was resisted as such suggestions did not go down well with the general public which led HRM Eze Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere to reverse himself and directed that the election can hold with a clause the women folks will not join the men after some women has developed interest in the election, bought form and are already campaigning.

As if the above was not enough the ODU President General Ezenta issued a statement on behalf of NEC buttressing HRM Ézè Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere’s on why Women will not participate in the election on behalf of NEC.

Further investigation revealed that the Secretary who is the clerk of the Apex body was not aware of the statement issued and signed by the President General.

In his words the Secretary General, Chief Godspower Nwankwo, ‘I have perused the document presented to this house on behalf of ODU National Executive Council (NEC) by its President General Chief Reginald Iroanya Ezenta dated 14th April 2025 and copiedd HRH Ézè J.O Dagbo of Ujuru Autonomous Community, HRM Eze Apostle (Dr) Chibuzor Chinyere of Ikwuorie Autonomous community and Mr. Chukwuemeka Dinne Esq Secretary ODU Electoral Committee.

“I have also carefully listened to the voice note of HRM Ézè Apostle (Dr) Chibuzor Chinyere of Ikwuorie Autonomous community as it relates to the place of the female gender in the forthcoming ODU National Executive Council Election Scheduled to hold on Easter Monday 21st April 2025 and other sundry issues.

“In my capacity as a bonafide son of Ohanku and the Present/Outgoing Secretary General of ODU, I hereby unequivocally and without prejudice posit as follows:

(1). that ODU constitution has been in existence since 2006;

(2) that the said constitution was first amended in 2016 by a review Committee headed by Chief Iheanyi Ewereuzor and presently undergoing a second amendment by a review committee set up in August 2024 and headed by Engr. Ifeanyi Nwaji (Aluta Sultan). The Committee has almost concluded the task but for the forth coming ODU National Executive Council Election.

(3) that the proposed election date (21/4/2025) is sacrosanct as all the aspirants are battle ready and the election committee fully prepared to hold same;

(4) that exclusion of female candidates from the election is a contravention of section 42(1)a of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended on the right to freedom from discrimination and articles 13, 14 & 15 of 1995 Beijing Declaration: 4th World Conference on Women;

(5). that in all branches of ODU except PHC in recent time, men and women constitute the executive body. Afterall there is no women wing/arm of the legislature in any part of the world.

(6). that an existing women arm/wing of ODU (if any) should not be imposed on the National Executive Council. We look forward to a credible, free and fair election, while I wish all candidates well” the statement concluded.

According to Barrister Orji Odochi Orji, the Senior Special Assistant to the House Committee Chairman on South East Development Commission SEDC an Indigene and a candidate contesting the position of legal adviser in the coming election, “Dee please stop this public opprobrium you are causing to yourself. You should be far above this level of pettiness.

“NEC meeting which supposedly made the decision in the document you circulated, do they make decisions through consultation and phone calls?
For that document to be properly referred to as ODU document there should have been a proper meeting of NEC. You don’t stay in your house, concort decisions, get collaborators to sign/endorse and foist it on the people.

“You are letting us to realize/confirm that you were meant to scuttle the election or keep a part of ODU to yourself by all means. Methink that you never knew the people will come out to embrace this election, otherwise you would have played all gimmicks to stop it from the onset.

This seems to be the only explanation why you were impatient to get Secretary General’s signature before disseminating that anti-people infected document.

Chief Godspower Nwankwo thank you for remaining smart, intelligent and a decent gentleman you have always being. Distancing yourself from the anti- people movement was the best decision in the circumstances of this matter.

“Whether this your laudable decision to remain with the people was made before or after tacitly playing along with Chief Ezenta’s call, it’s of no moment. What is impressive is that you remained your good self Kudos”

The National Investment Secretary NIS of the National Association of Academic Technologists a staunch comrade when contacted on phone concerning the statement issued by Hon. Ezenta and his NEC” queried “who is NEC, where and when did NEC meet and was quorum formed”?

“As long as I’m concerned, Chief Ezenta is the purported NEC and one individual can not refer or situate himself as NEC, that’s impersonation and we will challenge that, it is not possible, our community is not a banana republic.

As at the time of filing this report, information made available has it that some of the women that bought form to contest in the election are about seeking legal solution on why they will be excluded in the election.

Effort made to reach another illustrious son of the Community the Honorable commissioner for Information and Culture Prince Okey Kanu while filing this report failed.