……..Says We Won’t Be Distracted by Falsehood, Declares Current Executive Legitimate
Emmanuel Clement.
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Lagos State Chapter Under Chief Leo Okafor(Oba Ojoto),has challenged Chief Robert Obasi to pursue his grievances through the courts and the appropriate organs of the organisation instead of engaging in what it described as a sustained campaign of misinformation on social media.
In a second official rejoinder issued on the lingering leadership dispute within the organisation, the Lagos Chapter maintained that the current executive remains the constitutionally elected and widely recognized leadership, dismissing Obasi’s allegations as baseless and misleading.
The statement, signed by the Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Lagos State Chapter, Comrade Mike Orji, was a direct response to Obasi’s latest publication titled “Rejoinder to the So-Called Official Rejoinder.”
According to the organisation, while every member is entitled to personal opinions, no individual has the right to spread falsehood or make defamatory allegations capable of destabilising the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation in Lagos State.
The leadership specifically faulted Obasi’s description of members of the executive as “bandits,” insisting that such allegations are defamatory and unsupported by any credible evidence.
“Name-calling is not evidence. Alleging banditry without proof is defamation. If Robert Obasi has evidence of constitutional breaches, the law courts and Ime-Obi are open to all,” the statement read.
The organisation stressed that social media campaigns cannot replace lawful judicial or traditional processes, adding that it is prepared to defend its integrity before the courts.
On the legal dispute currently before the Yaba High Court, the leadership accused Obasi of attempting to mislead the public by discussing issues that are already before a competent court of law.
It described the matter as sub judice, warning that trying pending cases through media publications is not only irresponsible but also undermines the judicial process.
“Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo in Lagos State has the highest respect for the judiciary. The court will determine all conflicting claims in due course. We will not litigate court processes on WhatsApp or other social media platforms,” the statement declared.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the emergence of the present executive, the organisation insisted that the election and inauguration of its leadership complied fully with the provisions of the Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide Constitution and the Lagos State Chapter Bye-law.
It noted that the process involved extensive consultations with stakeholders and was conducted to ensure peace, unity and continuity within the organisation.
The leadership also rejected attempts to compare previous electoral exercises conducted in 2018 and 2022 with the 2026 process, arguing that the different periods operated under separate National Executive Committee arrangements and constitutional circumstances.
According to the statement, leadership legitimacy is determined by compliance with constitutional provisions and the mandate of members, not by selective narratives regarding attendance at meetings.
The organisation went further to maintain that the present executive enjoys the confidence and recognition of the overwhelming majority of Ndi-Igbo stakeholders in Lagos State and continues to discharge its responsibilities effectively despite what it described as distractions from a small dissenting group.
Responding to allegations of intimidation, Ohanaeze Lagos denied threatening any individual, explaining that its earlier demand for the retraction of allegedly defamatory statements was a legitimate legal step available to every aggrieved party.
It maintained that anyone convinced of the accuracy of his claims should have no hesitation in presenting them before the appropriate legal or traditional institutions.
The statement also clarified that Chief Robert Obasi no longer occupies any executive office within Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Lagos State Chapter, stressing that he speaks only for himself and not for the organisation.
While urging members across Lagos State to remain calm and united, the leadership reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the welfare of Ndi-Igbo, strengthening internal cohesion and sustaining cordial engagement with the Lagos State Government.
It added that the organisation would not be drawn into an endless media exchange, expressing confidence that its constitutional processes, official records and service to the Igbo community would ultimately vindicate its position.
The statement concluded with an Igbo proverb: “Eziokwu na-aga n’ihu, ụgha enweghi ụkwụ”, meaning, “Truth moves forward; lies have no legs.”