Letter to Chief Momoh Obaro - Kogi State Gubernatorial Aspirant

Posted and written by: Dr. Joseph Ozigis Akomodi, Ph.D.

Dear Chief Momoh Obaro, Gubernatorial Aspirant of Kogi State:

Thanks for your e-mail and words of advise to EVI in general. Regarding the recent e-mail between me and the National Chairman, I do not considered it as a quarrel. Mr Chairman raised some issues which I think needs to be addressed. My e-mail is to clarify his worries. The organization of this magnitude needs check and balances. What has happened, I considered it to be healthy conversation between the National Chairman and I. May be we should not have brought it to the open. That is looking at it at another dimension.

The EVI is up and running all for the benefit of Anebiras. We have reached the point of no return. The EVI strongly support the National Chairman to be the Chair of the Organization. No one can dispute it. His silence for a while is best know to him. He was aware in all of the meetings. He was informed on several occasions to join us at the meeting which is web based. He can attend the meeting at the comfort of his home. We have more vibrant members than ever. I am getting calls from the diaspora on a daily basis. As soon as any sons and daughters of our land discovered the existence of this body they called for more information and how to become a member.

We the Executives, since the start of the monthly meetings, had had meaningful discussions. For any organization to function there must be transparency and that is what EVI have showed and continued to demonstrate to all and its' ability to unite all Anebiras. We are not at all divided thinking of how to bring us together. We respect our National Chairman, and the contribution he has to offer to the Organization. We urge him to attend all of our meetings and he will earn all the respect of our members. His refusal to attend meetings, is seen by many of us as being immature. What had happened in the past is forgotten by all members. We do not think it is to the interest of anyone to revisit the issues we have resolved and moved on. His views are his views and his pride are his pride. We have to put all that aside to govern and serve for the interest of all Anebiras. So that in years to come, our children's' children will be able to carry the touch that will continue to illuminate for ever and ever (Amen).

The monthly Executive meetings which takes place on a monthly basis, is not just North America alone but all the five Regions. Region one, two three and five have always participated. I duff my hat for them. EVI is a global organization, therefore the idea of decentralization without check and balances will not be appropriate. As we move on, I will expect to see branches in big Cities such as New York, Los Angele's, Boston, Florida Toronto, London Moscow, Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano etc to emerge. This will further facilitate the raising of funds and bringing more innovative programs to our land, Kogi State, Nigeria and the world at large. The vision is there and we will make it work. For example, EVI Region 5 New York Branch, EVI Region 5 Toronto Branch etc. That will lean towards decentralization with check and balances, which make it even more global with unified body.

EVI is a benevolent organization for the generality of Anebira, it is not an Institution set up to be governed by an individual. While it exists to serve the interest of all Anebira or while our plight is to unite everyone, EVI will not hestitate to weed out any individual including the National President and National Chairman that attempts to use it in his or her own interest and exert or vest personnal opinions on others. The greater mass of Anebira we serve is far more greater than just loosing a member. EVI will stick to its own constitution and will not tolerate an attempt to circumvent its effort to bring peace to Anebira. We urge all members to demonstrate respect, maturity, intelligence and flexibility in dealing with each other. These attributes are the very things that are missing in our society and since these things are EVI's traits, we will use them to determine who is part of the organization.

The aspect of face to face meeting can happen not on a monthly basis but annually. Which we feel at this point all the Regions should be encouraged to have annual meeting at their respective Regions. The western Europe started this which we considered to be very effective under the leadership of Mathew Raji Andah.

My special advise to those of you who are Politicians back at home to come together as one voice, one body, one Ebirans regardless of your background, the party you belong to or the clan you belong to, put all these aside and unite as one front to have any headway during 2007 Gubernatorial race in Kogi State.

I wish all our members in North America and in the diaspora HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

God Bless EVI! God Bless Ebiraland!! God Bless Nigeria and the World at large!!!




Dr. Joseph Ozigis Akomodi, Ph.D. National President Ebira Vonya International New York, USA phone: 718-484-0351 cell: 917-570-6876 e-mail: jakomod@yahoo.com e-mail: jakomod@hotmail.comglobal e-mail: ebiravonya@yahoogroups.com