By Oke Peter
The crisis rocking the leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) took a new twist on Friday when the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union announced the impeachment of its president-general, Dr. Chris Okonkwo.
At a press conference held in Kano, on Thursday, SSAEAC National Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar Abubakar disclosed that the Council had agreed on the impeachment of Dr. Okonkwo over frequent breaches of the constitution, as well as to save the Union from total collapse.
Abubakar said: “Okonkwo has been running the affairs of SSAEAC as a private estate and all efforts to reconcile him with members failed. He had turned deaf ears to issues affecting the progress of the Union, hence the need to take urgent action to save the Union.”
“He [Okonkwo], in a flagrant violation of the SSAEAC Constitution, had unilaterally changed the venue of the Union’s 2022 National Delegate Conference [NDC] from Kano to Abuja.
“At the last NDC, the delegates approved Kano as a venue for the next SSAEAC 2022 National Delegates Conference. Surprisingly, Okonkwo single-handedly changed the venue from Kano to Abuja without recourse to the NEC as the Association’s constitution stipulates,” he said.
Furthermore, other atrocities committed by Okonkwo include the institution of pending 16 different court cases against SSAEAC members, sister union (NUEE), without any positive results.
Use of court cases to siphon SSAEAC members’ contributions; fraudulent uncompleted building projects, with payments made before the commencement of work; continuous over-invoicing and fictitious claims from SSAEAC.”
Others are plans by Okonwko to acquire SSAEAC Monte Carlo Hotel, Enugu, at a giveaway price; fuelling lingering crises in SSAEAC for almost six years and nonpayment of disengaged staff benefits; pursuance of selfish agenda at the detriment of Union members; lack of leadership skills, executive arrogance, high handedness and total disregard of SSAEAC constitution; personal use of three domestic staff/drivers in SSAEAC and the inauguration of an illegal disciplinary committee to try principal officers and NEC members, among others.”
We [Council members] believed that many of Okonkwo offenses are issues that could be resolved amicably without washing our linen in the public, but Okonkwo had rebuffed all entreaties made towards achieving a peaceful resolution of the issues.
Moreover, the leadership of the union could not continue to watch Okonkwo turning himself into a dictator without taking a step that would safeguard the union from collapse.”
“After due consultations with the Union members, Dr. Chris Okonkwo is hereby Impeached as SSAEAC President-General effective from today, 12th August 2021,” Mohammed declared.
All efforts to reach Dr. Okonkwo for his reaction on the impeachment notice proved abortive as his lines were not reachable.
The Council, however, appointed Engr. Musa Gambo Muhammed as the new acting president-general of the Union.
