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Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Secretary, Chief Robert Obasi, has said the office of the Coordinator, Ohanaeze Ndigbo South-West, is backed by the constitution and administrative structure of the organisation.
Obasi made the clarification while responding to what he described as a “smear publication and campaign of calumny” against his person by individuals he alleged were disconnected from the leadership structure of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
He said he had received several calls from within and outside Nigeria seeking clarification on the controversy surrounding the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the South-West and Lagos State.
According to him, while he had previously responded to the issues privately, he decided to make his position public “for clarity and posterity” and to ensure that members of the public were properly informed.
Obasi said one of the claims made in the disputed publication was that the office of the South-West Coordinator was not provided for in the Ohanaeze constitution.
“For the records, during his tenure as President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo, created zonal administrative centres for administrative convenience,” he said.
He explained that the structure included the South-South Zone, with its administrative centre in Rivers State; the Northern Zone, with Abuja as its administrative centre; the South-West Zone, with Lagos as its administrative centre; Ohanaeze Europe, with the United Kingdom as its administrative centre; and Ohanaeze USA, with New York as its administrative centre.
Obasi added that, based on his capacity and service to the organisation, Chief Everest Ozonweke was appointed Coordinator, Ohanaeze Ndigbo South-West, through a duly signed letter of appointment by Iwuanyanwu and the then Secretary General, Ambassador Okey Emuchey.
He said the appointment was subsequently maintained by the current leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Obasi further cited Article 14(3b) of the 2004 Constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as amended in 2026, which states that the Vice
Presidents General are responsible for ensuring that the vision, policies and programmes of Ohanaeze are extended beyond the Igbo homeland and implemented in their respective geopolitical regions.
He particularly drew attention to the provision that they “serve as the principal zonal coordinators, bridging the global leadership and regional chapters, aligning local activities with the Constitution and cultural ethos of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”
He also cited other provisions under Article 14(3), including the responsibility to supervise Ohanaeze operations and structures within their geopolitical zones, align zonal programmes with the organisation’s constitutional mandate and coordinate zonal engagements, town halls, cultural events and strategic dialogue with Igbo communities.
“The above is not my creation. It is an extract from the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide National Constitution,” Obasi said.
He argued that statements issued by some individuals purporting to speak for Ohanaeze Lagos showed, in his view, a lack of proper understanding of the organisation’s constitution and operational structure.
Obasi also questioned the authority under which certain individuals were issuing statements on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide regarding decisions of the General Executive Council (GEC).
He asked: “By what authority are they issuing statements and purporting to speak for Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on matters of GEC decisions?”
The Ohanaeze Lagos secretary also raised questions over reports concerning the status of Ozonweke and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State.
He recalled a 2018 incident during a meeting with the then National Electoral Committee for Lagos, headed by retired DIG Hilary Okpara, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
According to him, during the meeting, the Secretary of the committee, Chief Eric Ebeh, read out the electoral guidelines for the 2018 elections, after which Chief Leonard Okafor allegedly rejected the guidelines and made claims concerning financial support allegedly given to some members of the electoral committee.
Obasi said the incident subsequently led to a review of the electoral process and the recall of some officials suspected of compromise.
He described the episode as a historical precedent that, in his view, demonstrated the need for adherence to established constitutional and electoral procedures.
Turning to the current crisis, Obasi said Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide held a leadership retreat and expanded GEC meeting in Enugu on August 19, 2026, where the issues surrounding Ohanaeze Lagos reportedly featured prominently.
He alleged that, before the meeting, Chief Leonard Okafor travelled to Enugu and consulted with some GEC members over his reported aspiration to be recognised as President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State.
Obasi further alleged that Okafor subsequently expressed confidence that he had secured substantial support within the GEC and that his inauguration was imminent.
He, however, said the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide later reaffirmed the GEC’s position on the leadership of Ohanaeze Lagos and directed members to comply with the decision.
According to Obasi, Ozonweke, in the discharge of his responsibilities, followed up with a rejoinder for immediate implementation, which was circulated through various platforms and media outlets.
He alleged that the development triggered hostility against Ozonweke and the President General from some individuals who disagreed with the decision.
Obasi further alleged that another visit to Enugu was made ahead of the expanded GEC meeting, during which efforts were made to secure support for Okafor’s recognition as President of Ohanaeze Lagos and the removal of Ozonweke as South-West Coordinator.
He said the allegations of inducement surrounding the consultations should be properly investigated, rather than treated as established facts.
According to him, the expanded GEC meeting subsequently considered the Lagos leadership crisis and resisted moves to remove Ozonweke as South-West Coordinator.
He said the President General clarified that Ozonweke, as Personal Assistant to the President General, derives his duties from the office of the President General and is entitled to discharge responsibilities assigned to him by that office.
Obasi added that the GEC resolved to establish a high-powered committee to visit Lagos and seek a lasting solution to the leadership crisis.
He maintained that the constitution empowers the President General to make strategic appointments, including zonal appointments, stressing that any future restructuring would be expected to cover the organisation holistically rather than target only the South-West.
Obasi also criticised Okafor’s reported ambition to return as President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, describing it as “inordinate ambition” and urging him to reconsider the path the contest had taken.
He recalled that in 2022, under the National Electoral Committee led by the late Ambassador George Obiozor, it was resolved that the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State should rotate among states that had not previously produced the President.
He alleged that despite the decision, Okafor continued campaigning across local government areas in Lagos, although, according to him, Anambra State had already produced a president.
Obasi further claimed that Okafor’s name was eventually removed from the ballot during that election because he was not an indigene of any of the states designated to produce the next president.
He said despite the subsisting rotational arrangement, Okafor again expressed interest in the 2026 Ohanaeze Lagos presidency, initially presenting himself as an advocate of peace and reconciliation.
Obasi, however, alleged that the underlying objective was to return to the presidency of Ohanaeze Lagos for a second term.
He urged Ndigbo to be wary of individuals who, according to him, disregard the constitution, court orders or the authority of the President General while presenting themselves as leaders.
“Ohanaeze is guided by one Constitution, one GEC and one leadership. Any attempt to circumvent this will fail,” he declared.
Obasi said Ozonweke remained committed to serving Ndigbo and upholding the ideals of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, describing his performance as South-West Coordinator as outstanding.
He also commended the President General and members of the GEC for what he described as their commitment to due process.
However, he appealed to the leadership to ensure that members whose impartiality could reasonably be questioned were not included in any committee constituted to resolve the Lagos crisis.
“Those who have compromised their integrity and betrayed our social trust should not be part of the committee for Lagos, as they are already biased,” he said.
