Peoples Club of Nigeria in the maze of soul searching
ACHO ORABUCHI
Dallas, Texas, USA
Thursday, July 28, 2005
The two-day Biannual National Convention of the Peoples Club of Nigeria International –USA (PCNI-USA) kicked off in Washington, D.C., the cradle of democracy, on July 22, 2005 with a binge of effervescent characteristic of Grammy Awards. However, this time, it was with series of signature handshakes — the peculiar left-handshake.
The event, which began with a reception at Mirage Hall in Langley Park Maryland at about 11:00 p.m. on Friday night with a purported convention, ended with new inductions during the gala night on Saturday, July 23, 2005 at the Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.
In pre-event chats with some members, Dr. Alozie said that the objective of the Club is strictly social. “People pay for the social interaction,” he said.
Ossy Unamba had this to say during our conversation, “The objective of Peoples Club of Nigeria International is to create opportunities for its members to gainfully attain their goals in business or other endeavors. The members are obligated to help fellow members benefit from business opportunities that they create. The hallmarks of Peoples Club of Nigeria International membership are high sense of accomplishments through hard work, character, honest discernable means of livelihood, strong family values, and protocols. " He stressed further, "Our members come first before friends! But this selfishness also has enormous advantages to the society.”
The Chairman of PCNI-Washington D.C. Branch, Chibuzo Ekekwe, summarized it this way, “What we are is a SOCIAL CLUB; it is a place to meet and interact with others, meet and fraternize with each other, help each other with our business ventures and help the less privileged.”
The theme of the convention entitled “PCNI Convention - It's a family Affair,” which was partially evident during the banquet night, could have been-- for obvious reasons -- “PCNI Convention - It's a platform for Politics.” Interestingly, Peoples Club, which prides itself as a non-partisan organization transformed itself overnight to be acutely political, at least for this “political” convention.
The
Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his wife,
Chief Nya-Ga (Mrs.) Jennifer Atiku Abubakar graced the occasion. The gala night,
sated with politics, witnessed obvious differing political interests. The
presence of Vice President Atiku Abubakar's political vanguard, the Destiny
Democratic Movement (DDM), permeated the facility to the extent that Sir Jude
Nkpado wore DDM badge all night instead of that of the Peoples Club. The
DDM team included Dr. Anne Nzegwu and Dr. (Mrs.)
Abadom.
The
Orji Uzor Kalu 2007 Campaign Organization in USA was at the banquet in full
force with informational materials. The team led by Zoobee Chukwurah, Atty.
Nnaemeka Odunze, and Philo Ogugua electrified the hall when they entered.
All eyes were fixed behind them for an expected glimpse of Abia State Governor
Orji Uzor Kalu. Unfortunately, the Governor did not make it. However, Chief
Obidike Ajuluchukwu delivered his speech. In his speech, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu
said,
“Since 1999 when I assumed office as governor I have devoted substantial part of my time to drawing attention to unfair way our people are being treated. Take a look at the situation in the five states of the southeast and you will appreciate what I am saying. All the federal roads are in terrible conditions, electricity is not steady, no federal industries, no rail lines, the bridges across the River Niger linking the Southeast with the West is collapsing, the River Niger itself is yet to be dredged, Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu has not yet been upgraded to an international standard two years after the presidential proclamation in 2003.”
“On federal appointments we are lagging behind. In fact, there are some positions that no Igbo man or woman may occupy. They are reserved for only those who are true Nigerians. If that is the case, then what are we? Are we not part of the corporate unit called Nigeria?”
While Babangida’s NDP group was on the ground selling the movement, the presumptive gubernatorial candidates for Imo and Kogi States respectively, Hon. Ike Ibe and Chief Daudu Saidu Ugonoh, maintained their presence.
In any case, the Banquet gala night, which was chaired by Dr. Benedict Okwara, Medical Director & CEO of First Care Medical Clinic, North Carolina, did not lack crowd, glamour, and politics. While many people came from Nigeria, some came from Canada.
Among the members of the delegation from Nigeria were a member of the Board of Trustees, Chief Fabian Onwuachi (Achara Ugo n'Akokwa), Secretary of the Board of Trustees and Grand Patron, Chief I. Ojukwu Ike, Grand Patron, His Royal Highness Eze Robert Nwankwo (Igwe Ogene n'Adazi), Chairman of Lagos Branch, Sir Godfrey Asuzu, Trustee of the Club, His Royal Highness Eze Des Ogugua, and Chief /Dr. Joe Ilonze, (Eze Ugonna n'Ojoto).
Some of the attendees were Chief Chuck Osondu, High Chief Ike Nwoha, Ray Ibe, Prince Ken Nwoke, Chief Louis N. Obioha, Cyriacus Okoro, Chris Iwuanyanwu, Iyke Okoro, Joseph Njoku, Chibuzo Onukwefor, and Ambassador Udoh.
The Club has no humanitarian services outside the membership. Members, however, agreed that Peoples Club has strong social benefits to its members and the need for the convention was imperative. That was where the unanimity ended. The views about the success of the convention were mixed.
Chairman of Convention Planning Committee, Dr. Stanley Onye, thought that the convention went very well. Vincent Akas echoed that sentiment. However, Ossy Unamba saw it differently. He said, “It was a short of the expectation. It did not go as planned. The purpose was to create a forum to deliberate on issues that would move us forward, but there was no forum for the intended discussion.”
Bright Olaokpu echoed, “The convention was a joke. The attendance was excellent, but the planning was poor at best.”
High Chief Eddie Osuagwu succinctly said, “The convention struggles in logistics and execution.”
On the other hand, Chuck Chuckuemeka said, “It was nice being around that many distinguished Nigerians at one place. Although, I did not get the sense of what Peoples Club was all about by the weekend activities, but it appears to me that this caliber of Nigerians could bring about needed economic and social emancipation to our country if their energies can be directed towards a positive change. A note of caution to future hosts of this convention is to learn how to manage the crowd, as Washington D.C. did not do a good job at it.”
“The idea of convention is good,” Chief Ben Ginigeme began, “There was not a forum for people to deliberate in this convention. There was no need to call a convention—bringing people together without discussion. The Leadership Core Group (LCG) should be scraped. Also, the idea of sponsoring people to come from Nigeria to perform their responsibility—their duty—is totally wrong. We should not be doing that. They come here to lobby for some particular interest,” he concluded.
Dan Osuagwu disappointedly opined, “The Leadership Core Group of Peoples Club hijacked the Peoples Club convention in Washington, D.C. At the end of the day, there was no open-ended convention attended by the “people”. The attendee were only privileged to attend the gala night before departing to their various stations.”
Polly Ubah said, “The Friday night event would have been beautiful if the event was held at Washington Hilton instead of at Mirage in Maryland. Lack of proper planning and coordination neutralized whatever events they planned for the Saturday afternoon. However, the night event was a very good one and that compensated the participants for the Friday night. Overall, it was a good mini vacation for me, my wife, and my children," Polly concluded.
Unimpressed with the activities, especially the convention, Dr. Romanus Onye said, “With regards to the convention, the focus should be on having a direction. It seems there is no direction; hence the convention views are limited to a very small group [LCG]. If this convention does not make a change—have a direction, then the convention has no meaning. We cannot continue on services of convention that does not bring any result. Above all, we have to be focused.”
Aloysius Obodoako stressed, “The 2005 PCNI Convention was unproductive because of lack of adequate planning by the hosting branch coupled with inarticulate decisions by the Leadership Core Group (LCG).”
I gained an interesting insight into the Club. It is evident that while the Club has stagnated in Nigeria, it is booming in the USA. In his study examining series of five-year intervals of new PCNI branch formations, Dr. (Nze) Ezegozie Eze, founding chairman of Philadelphia branch, noticed what PCNI watchers have known all along. His study revealed that all new branch formations happen outside Nigeria. He said, “Here are my findings: Firstly, in terms of branch inaugurations, 1976 to 1980 witnessed the highest growth, which is 40% (14/35). Secondly, from 1986 to 1990, the CEC did not grant any approvals for inaugurations, not because it did not want to give any approvals but because no application was received. Thirdly, from 1991 to the present, all new branch formations have been in the INTERNATIONAL ARENA and none in Nigeria.”
It is obviously a commonplace to observe most people, especially those of Igbo decent, crave for recognition. In some cases, the demand for this recognition goes beyond the societal proportional value of the individuals. Interestingly, it is this clamor for public recognition that gives rise to the heightened interest in the United States for and subsequent augmented membership in the Peoples Club of Nigeria International –USA (PCNI-USA).
Apparently, PCNI has taken a strong foothold in the US. If PCNI could think outside the box and redefine the aims and objectives of the club, the interest in the Diaspora could only go higher.