NNU and Ndokwa Leadership
The various social cultural bodies in Nigeria were formed for the purpose of unifying the cultural ideas of the people they represent, especially when it comes to leadership direction.
In Nigeria when apex bodies of the various ethnic groups in the country are mentioned, groups like the Afenefere, the Arewa progressive Congress, the Ohaneze Ndeigbo, and the Urbobo Progressive Union, (UPU), comes to mind. These social cultural bodies is on record to have charted a course of leadership drive within their various ethnic nationality, especially when it comes to national issues that may have serious impact on the people, like the case of 2015 General Election, and the forthcoming national census programme.
Prior to the 2015 election, in Delta state, the Urhobo Progressive Union, (UPU), played a significant role in determining how the selection of the various party candidates emerged, and after the election the appointments into the various ministries and departments reflected on that.
These has been the pattern of development of the Nigerian society before and after independence. The various social cultural bodies or the apex bodies of the ethnic nationalities has played significant roles in the development of their areas, especially in leadership leaning.
While many of the social cultural apex bodies has transited with easy from one executive management to another, thus showing the proper way to lead, the case of the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), the apex body of the Ndokwa people of Delta state, and the second largest nationality, with high economic potentials in the form of natural resources and human capital development is a sorry state, as issues always trail the end and emergence of a new executive body since inception.
The Pharm. Paul Enebeli led executive, for sometimes before the expiration of the executive was highly involved in serious in-house argument and fight, which caused the nationality a lot of benefits, especially in leadership development of the people. However, one thing though cannot be taken away from that executive, as the bar of the knowledge of the existence of the body was raised to the awareness of the people of Nigeria.
But again, the recurring issue of new executives without a proper paper handover is becoming too embarrassing to the people of Ndokwa.
It is not wrong for the people to ask what is the issue or issues that normally leads to quarrels especially mid-way of a new executive or towards the end of an executive tenure. Why are people of Ndokwa always pushed to a tight corner in the committee of nations? What is in there, that our personal egos will not allow us to be just leaders, as we move ahead? Why can’t we learn at this stage that without proper leadership structure we will never get proper attention and recognition?
Today, because of the felt negative perception of the NNU, due to the fights and quarrels of the executives, many notable sons and daughters of Ndokwa fails to identify with the body. And it is on record that many of them never attended the NNU gatherings, as confessed recently by Senator Patrick Enebeli Osakwe.
Ndokwa men and women, who had volunteered to work for the Ndokwa people must have to come forward with plain heart and open hand without any hiding agenda. At the moment the process of getting the Ndokwa Neku back on track is facing credibility test, as many forces are fighting the committee.
Something need to be done to get Ndokwa out of this quagmire. Let put our interests behind and move ahead, in the part of truth and justice. The Ndokwa leaders must learn to be leaders, and not lords. They must learn to disagree to agree. Enough of the embarrassments.
