OPEN LETTER TO THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT GENERAL OF NRI COMMUNITY OBA KELVIN OBIEGBUNNEM (OCHENDO)
Dear Oba Kelvin Obiegbunnem,
It is often said that those who live in glass houses should be cautious about throwing stones. This proverb becomes particularly relevant in light of the recent issues surrounding correspondence between the leadership of the Nri community and the government.
Having carefully reviewed the documents currently circulating in the public space—especially letters written during your tenure as President General of Nri to the former Governor of Anambra State—it has become evident that the position you now appear to hold raises certain questions that deserve clarification.
In recent times, you have reportedly made efforts to obtain and publicize letters written by the current President General, Oba Romanus Okafor (Eziafakego), in order to determine which of those letters were signed solely by him and which were jointly signed with the Secretary General. While scrutiny of public leadership actions is not in itself improper, the basis of the present criticism becomes difficult to understand when viewed against the record of your own administration.
Documents now in circulation indicate that during your tenure as President General, several letters addressed to government officials were signed solely by you without the co-signature of the then Secretary General, Hon. Chudi Mojekwu. This development naturally raises an important question: if it is now being suggested that it is improper for a President General to correspond with government authorities without the Secretary General’s signature, why was the same practice followed during your own administration?
If such a procedure was considered acceptable at the time, it would be helpful for the community to understand why similar actions by the current President General are now being presented as a matter of concern. For the sake of transparency, consistency, and fairness, we respectfully invite you to clarify this apparent contradiction.
We, the Patriotic People of Nri (PPN), remain firmly committed to supporting the current President General, Oba Romanus Okafor (Eziafakego), in his ongoing efforts to promote peace, stability, and progress in Nri through lawful and peaceful means.
At the same time, we wish to respectfully appeal to you, Chief Kelvin Obiegbunnem, and to other stakeholders who may have expressed strong opposition to the current leadership, to reconsider any stance that could undermine the peace of the community. The unity, progress, and collective wellbeing of Nri must remain the shared responsibility of all sons and daughters of the land.
Furthermore, it is our sincere hope that public discourse on this matter will remain constructive and responsible. The safety and dignity of every community leader must be respected, and any statements capable of inciting hostility or tension should be avoided in the interest of communal harmony.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Patriotic People of Nri (PPN) will continue to advocate transparency and accountability in community affairs. Additional documentary evidence relating to official correspondence during previous administrations may be presented to the public where necessary, strictly for the purpose of ensuring historical accuracy and public understanding.
As the proverb wisely reminds us:He who peels groundnuts for a blind man must keep blowing the whistle to show that he is not eating the groundnuts.
May wisdom, restraint, and the collective interest of Nri guide all our actions.
Yours sincerely,The Patriotic People of Nri (PPN)
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