President of Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), Professor Timothy Uzodinma Nwala has clarified that he is still the President and leader of the socio-cultural pressure group with interest in fostering peace, unity and development of the Igbo nation.
The ADF leader said that already, a transition committee to elect a new leadership by the month of June which will succeed him is working in that direction.
Professor Nwala spoke in reaction to published reports that a new leadership for ADF has emerged.
Nwala, the first Nigerian Professor of Philosophy and acclaimed father of contemporary African Philosophy, said at the ADF office in Enugu that there was an illegal conduct by an overzealous group who want to beat the gun, pervert the processes laid down by the ADF Transition Committee and went out to declare themselves as new leaders of ADF.
According to him: “As you can see, I am still in charge. How can a group of people take over the leadership of an organisation without occupying it’s office? The fact remains that after 10 years of meritorious service to Igbo nation, I have decided to step aside and wish only to play advisory role. The ADF transition committee is working assiduously to elect credible sons of Igbo land who will take over from me.
“Surprisingly, some people who felt they will not meet the criteria for the election went out to claim they have been elected. The electioneering process is on course and hopefully will be conducted and concluded peacefully by next month June. We have no crisis”.
He described the group as impostors, cautioning members of the public to avoid dealing with them on issues relating to ADF.
The ADF leader disclosed that there was an attempt by the dissident group to come into ADF Secretariat in Enugu but they were flushed out with assistance from the Nigerian Police Force.
The “intruders,” he said, “are on bail and will soon be charged to court.”
Professor Nwala went memory lane, saying that “for the past 10 years, ADF has been in the forefront of championing Igbo cause. ADF was at the forefront of the anti-grazing bill before the National Assembly which was eventually thrown off.
“ADF fought against the Quit Notice given to Igbos living in the North by the Northern Youths and some of their elders.
“ADF took the matter to United Nations through a petition and copied to American Congress and other major congresses in the world.
“ADF took the Federal government and the Nigerian military to court over the Python Dance horror experience.
“ADF inaugurated the campaign asking Igbos to bring their wealth home. ADF was responsible for inaugurating the movement in the East.
ADF also organised the first major international colloquium in 2014 which brought over 2.500 Igbos from different parts of the world to discuss the predicament and future of Ndgbo in Nigeria.
“The result of that colloquium is contained in the two volume book titled ‘IGBO NATION: History and challenges of Rebirth and Development.
“ADF has also done very deep research into the Nigerian January 1966 coup and the Biafra incursion into the Mid-West which is published in a book titled, “THE NIGERIA JANUARY 1966 COUP AND BIAFRA: MYTHS AND REALITIES.”
“The result showed that coup was organized by young military officers who sought to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo from prison and make him the Prime Minister of Nigeria.”
Professor Nwala elaborated other achievements of ADF under his watch in the past ten years, stating that the lacuna in the activities of the organisation will be broken in the month of July with a seminar on contemporary issues bordering our nation and Ndigbo in particular.