Sunday 27 November 2011

Mboho Expels Two Over Misconduct -Disclaims Sylvanus Okon


By Franklyn Isong

Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio has expelled two of its members in the USA chapter over what it called “acts of insubordination and gross misconduct,” saying that the dismissed members caused an offensive letter to be issued to the President.

The former High Commissioner for USA/Canada of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akparawa Sylvanus Okon and the Secretary-General of the USA chapter, Akparawa Joseph Ibokette, had sent a letter to the international headquarters of the association in Nigeria, informing it of it (USA) chapter declaring autonomy from the headquarters. The letter which was signed by the Akparawa Ibokette, asserted that the USA chapter has elected Akparawa Sylvanus Okon as it interim president.

But in what seems to be a counter reaction, another letter emerged from the USA chapter of the body singed by the trio of Akparawa (Prof.) Maurice Ekwo, High Commissioner; Akparawa Godwin Ekpene, Deputy High Commissioner; Akparawa Essien Isong, Director of Protocol, to the mboho international headquarters in Uyo, Nigeria, disowning the earlier claims of autonomy, declaring the loyalty and support of the USA/Canada chapter to the headquarters.

Barely a week later, the international headquarters of the association issued a letter expelling the duo of Sylvanus Okon and Joseph Ibokette from the association.

According to the expulsion letter singed by Akparawa Stephen Ibia, Secretary General, and obtained by Weekend Insight on Wednesday, the expulsion letter read in full; “Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio was established on 1st August 1987 as a socio-cultural Organization for the preservation, promotion and protection of the culture, identity and dignity of Ibibio people. In Mboho’s 25 years of existence, the organization has remained one indivisible group with one President all over the world. MBOHO has High Commissioners and Chapter Chairmen in designated areas all over the world as approved by the Central Working Committee to assist in implementing its programmes.
“The activities of the organization are always in line with the objectives and policy trust approved by the Central Working Committee (CWC) and the General Assembly. Mboho operates a unitary system of government with a unitary Constitution with one President as provided in Section 8 of the Constitution. Whereas Chapters are authorized to have bye-laws, where the provisions of the Chapter bye-laws conflict with that of the Constitution, the Constitution prevails.

“The current President is the 8th in succession and as provided in Section 10 (i) of the Constitution, he serves a single tenure of four years without a second term.

“After you had served as High Commissioner for six years, it became necessary to appoint another officer to succeed you for purposes of developing many leaders within the Organization for the service of Ibibio race.

“Instead of your accepting Mboho’s decision in good faith, you resorted to subversive activities in an attempt to perpetuate yourself in office for your personal gains.

“It is of note that while you held office as High Commissioner, you made yourself sole administrator of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio in USA and when you were invited to appear before the Executive Council, Central Working Committee and the disciplinary Committee to defend yourself over arbitrary actions taken, you, shunned the very organization and the very President that appointed you.

“As if the above acts of insubordination and gross misconduct were not enough, you caused an offensive letter to be issued to the President who re-appointed you.

“To add pains to injury, you championed a media war on the pages of news papers and the Internet purporting to have split the organization for purpose of actualizing your inordinate and sit-tight in office ambition. You equally declared yourself as the Interim National President as a dissident member to create confusion and cause anarchy, a thing unheard of in the 25 years of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio existence.

“In view of the above and other acts of gross misconduct by you, having been removed from office as High Commissioner in line with Section 13 of the Constitution of the Organization, the Central Working Committee of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio in the exercise of its powers as contained in the Constitution, has approved your expulsion from the Organization and hereby expels you accordingly, with effect from Friday, 18th November 2011. You are to hand over all properties of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio in your possession including, the Certificate of Registration, Constitution and the Byelaws, MMI Cap etc, to Akparawa (Prof.) Maurice Ekwo, Mboho’s High Commissioner to USA/Canada, failure of which Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio will employ all avenues to deal with the matter decisively.”

While in the expulsion letter of Joseph Ibokette, the body said; “By an undated letter signed by you and published in the Nigerian Dailies and the Internet, you purported to separate Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio in USA from Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio in Nigeria without the consent/approval of the Central Working Committee and the General Assembly.

“This action of yours by all standards is a contravention of (Section 23) of the Constitution of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio. It amounts to secession and is capable of disintegrating the Organization.

“Consequently, the Central Working Committee of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio at its meeting held on Thursday 17th November 2011 had approved your expulsion from the organization with effect from Friday 18th November, 2011 having removed you from office in keeping with (Section 13) of the Constitution of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio.

“You are to hand over all properties of MBOHO in your possession including, the MMI Cap, Constitution etc to Mboho’s High Commissioner to USA, Akparawa (Prof) Maurice Ekwo without any delay.”

Meanwhile, the Mboho headquarters have issued a disclaimer on Mr. Sylvanus Okon, warning the general public from transacting any business with him in the name of the organization.

“The disclaimer read; “This is to inform the general public, members of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio Nigeria, USA and the world over that Mr. Sylvanus Okon who was once a member of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio USA Chapter is no longer a member of this great Ibibio Association.

“He was accordingly indicted by the Central Working Committee of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio for gross misconduct and subsequently expelled from MMI on the 18th November, 2011. Therefore, any person, group or corporate organization that transacts any business with him in the name of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, do so at his/her or their own risk. General Public to take note.”

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