John Nwaigwe
SCHOLARSHIP CONTROVERSY ROCKS UBAKALA: “WE WERE NOT INFORMED OR CONSULTED” — OGBUEHI CHALLENGES CLAIM
The controversy surrounding alleged scholarship awards to indigenes of Ubakala by Hon. Obi Aguocha, Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, has taken a fresh turn following a clarification from the Immediate Past President General of the Ubakala Clan Improvement Union Federated (UCIUF), Elder Friday Ogbuehi.
Ogbuehi reacted to a response reportedly issued by the current Secretary General of UCIUF to Pharmacist Chidiebere Okorie, PG Emeritus, concerning the alleged scholarships and the role of the union’s past administration.
In a strongly worded clarification, the former President General said the administration he led was neither informed nor consulted about the alleged scholarship awards during its tenure.
“For the record, the past administration led by me was not informed of such scholarships, nor were we consulted for the award of such scholarships,” Ogbuehi stated.
He further explained that such an initiative, if brought before his administration, would have involved the leadership of all the autonomous communities within Ubakala Clan.
“If such had happened, in our administration’s usual manner of leadership, the entire fifteen Autonomous Communities of Ubakala Clan would have been involved through their presidents,” he added.
The statement has now introduced a new dimension into the ongoing discussion over the alleged scholarship beneficiaries, the process through which the awards were said to have been facilitated, and the involvement—or otherwise—of the recognised leadership structures of Ubakala Clan.
Ogbuehi maintained that his intervention was necessary because the administration he led had been mentioned in the discussion.
“I thought it necessary to clarify this issue where our administration has been mentioned,” he said.
The former President General, however, concluded his intervention on a conciliatory note, saying:
“Nma nma nu. Jisie nu ike.”
The clarification by Ogbuehi is likely to generate further discussion among stakeholders as questions continue to be raised about the alleged scholarships and the extent to which the relevant leadership structures were involved.
Reported by:
Ikechi Success Nwachukwu JP
The People’s Journalist
