How PDP Leaders Truncated Efforts to Reform Ndokwa Neku Union
Efforts to reposition the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU) for the collective good of Ndokwa people have been thwarted by certain leaders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who appear more interested in preserving their influence than in ensuring the apex socio-cultural group functions effectively. The latest attempt to set the NNU on the right path through an Emergency Annual General Meeting (EAGM) was reportedly derailed by these entrenched political interests.
According to our source, a prominent Ndokwa leader who was Managing Director of a Federal Government agency, alongside other PDP loyalists, manipulated the meeting that was meant to correct the leadership and constitutional issues plaguing the NNU since 2013. The preplanned EAGM, scheduled at the residence of Rear Admiral Mike Onah (Rtd) in Utagba Uno, was expected to bring together key stakeholders to resolve long-standing conflicts within the organization. However, the meeting was disrupted by a group of just 14 individuals out of the 80 expected attendees, effectively nullifying the broader community’s efforts at reform.
The crisis within the NNU has been ongoing for years, largely due to unfiled constitutional amendments and disputes between the executive committee and the election committee. The inability to file these amendments has left the leadership of the NNU in a state of uncertainty. A legal team convened earlier this month to deliberate on these challenges had outlined key decisions, including the resolution of conflicts of interest, proper documentation of election guidelines, and amendments to the composition of the Board of Trustees to include youth and women leaders.
Maps of Ndokwa
Despite these well-intentioned efforts, the intervention of PDP-affiliated individuals ensured that the agreed resolutions were ignored. Instead of addressing the governance failures that have plagued the NNU for over a decade, these individuals prioritized the protection of their political allies, sweeping major infractions under the carpet. This move has left many Ndokwa leaders frustrated, as they see the continued manipulation of the NNU as detrimental to the progress of the ethnic nationality.
In a statement following the disrupted EAGM, Rear Admiral Mike Onah (Rtd) expressed gratitude to all participants and announced that an election to usher in a new leadership for the NNU would hold on February 12, 2025. However, critics argue that this decision does not address the fundamental issues that the EAGM was meant to resolve. Instead, it appears to be a face-saving measure designed to placate aggrieved stakeholders while maintaining the status quo.
The discontent among Ndokwa people is palpable, as many expected concrete resolutions from the Utagba Uno meeting. The failure to implement the agreed agenda, including critical reforms, has reinforced concerns that the NNU remains a tool for political manipulation rather than a genuine representative body for the people. The inability to hold accountable those responsible for the organization’s dysfunction further underscores the systemic issues within the group’s leadership.
Observers argue that for the NNU to regain its credibility, there must be a sincere effort to depoliticize its leadership and ensure that its governance structures are legally sound and representative of the diverse interests within Ndokwa nation. Until this is achieved, the organization risks continued stagnation, leaving the people without a strong and functional socio-cultural umbrella.
As the NNU election date approaches, the Ndokwa people must remain vigilant to ensure that their apex body does not fall into the hands of self-serving individuals again. The time has come for a leadership that prioritizes the collective interest over political expediency. Only then can the NNU fulfill its purpose of advancing the cause of the Ndokwa ethnic nationality.
