A leadership crisis is threatening to tear apart the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa State, resulting in violent clashes, including the brutal beating of one of its prominent members. Chief Nwankwo Johnpaul, a key figure within the group, is currently receiving medical treatment after being severely attacked during a meeting held on Sunday, October 8th, in Yenagoa.
The clash took place during the monthly executive council meeting of the Bayelsa faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The core of the disagreement stems from a contentious issue regarding which state within the South East region will produce the next “Igwe of Bayelsa,” a traditional title that holds significant influence over the Igbo community in the state.
Chief Nwankwo Johnpaul narrated the events leading up to the violent altercation. According to him, the factional president of the group, Mazi Onuma Johnson, raised a controversial issue during the meeting. Mazi Johnson revealed that one of the aspirants for the Igwe title had reported him to the Department of State Services (DSS), alleging misconduct.
This disclosure didn’t sit well with Johnpaul, who questioned why such an issue was being discussed during the meeting. “I simply asked if any formal petition had been filed against the president at the DSS, and I was immediately met with hostility,” Johnpaul explained. His request for clarification led to a physical attack from some of the president’s loyalists.
The beating left Johnpaul with serious injuries, including bruises all over his body. He was swiftly taken to the hospital, where he is currently recovering. “I was beaten to the point where I could hardly move. I had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment,” Johnpaul recounted, speaking from his hospital bed. His condition is now stable, but the incident has sent shockwaves through the Igbo community in Bayelsa.
Beyond the physical assault, Chief Johnpaul has leveled several serious allegations against Mazi Onuma Johnson, the factional president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa. According to Johnpaul, Johnson is at the center of a growing controversy involving the issuance of a fake WAEC certificate. Johnpaul claims that this scandal is one of the reasons why the aspirant reported Johnson to the DSS.
He further accused Johnson of violating the Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitution by supporting an unqualified candidate for the coveted Igwe title. According to the constitution, a candidate for Igwe must have been a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for at least two years. Johnpaul alleges that the candidate backed by Johnson does not meet this requirement, calling into question the president’s motives.
“His candidate hasn’t even been with us for two years, and yet he wants to impose him on us. It’s against the rules,” Johnpaul said.
Another key issue causing tension within the group is the perceived favoritism towards members from Abia State, where Mazi Johnson hails from. Johnpaul criticized the president for concentrating most of the leadership positions in the hands of individuals from Abia State, to the detriment of other Igbos in Bayelsa.
“Abia State already holds the office of the president, the women leader, and the youth leader. Now, he wants to install another person from Abia as the Igwe. It’s simply not fair,” Johnpaul lamented. He further added that Johnson’s preferred candidate for the Igwe position lacks the support of the wider Igbo community in Bayelsa.
“If he had supported a candidate that all Igbos in Bayelsa know and respect, we would have backed him. But now, he wants to impose someone that is unknown to the majority of us. It’s not right.”
The Igwe title, a respected traditional position within the Igbo community, has always been a symbol of unity and cultural pride. However, in this case, it has become a source of bitter division. The fight for the title has drawn in accusations of corruption, favoritism, and constitutional violations, further deepening the crisis within Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa.
Johnpaul revealed that there is another aspirant for the title, Chief Ozuome from Enugu State, who has the backing of many Igbos in the state. He suggested that if the contest was between Chief Ozuome and a candidate with broader support, the situation would have been less contentious. “We would all have supported the candidate, so that he can contest fairly with Chief Ozuome, and the better man would emerge as Igwe,” Johnpaul stated.