Fwd: Rebuttal/Clarification

[Peter Obiefuna]

P

Begin forwarded message:

From: Paul Ugor <paul...@gmail.com>
Date: 10 January, 2011 2:57:14 AM MST

Subject: Rebuttal/Clarification

Fellow NAA Members:

My attention has been drawn to recent insinuations that I had been paid some whooping sum as one of the MCs for the Nigerian Day celebration in October last year or that Dr. Ndubisi Nnamani had approached me to help him cook up figures for my service as co-MC for that event. None of these is true as far as I’m concerned. For the records (given our historical amnesia I wonder if we ever pay attention to records), let me state categorically that:

1). Neither Tope nor I got a dime for our service to our community on that day

2). The NAA president, Dr. Ndubisi Nnamani, did not approach me to help him sort out any financial issue concerning the NAA (I’m not an accountant) and
finally,

3). I did not report to anybody that 1 & 2 above happened.

Before I left Edmonton in late December I heard rumours that there were frantic efforts to reconcile NAA accounts, especially the forty-eight thousand ostensibly used for the October anniversary and that there was a claim to the effect that the two MCs for the event were paid some money. I waited patiently in the hope that that spurious claim will be presented to the NAA general assembly so I could contest it. It never happened, so I left quietly dismissing it as unfounded gossip.

Perhaps I should make some key points here for the first time about the NAA crisis. I do have profound respect for Dr. Nnamani, particularly as a young scholar. He is one of the finest minds in our Nigerian community in Edmonton and nobody can possibly deny him that. But I do disagree with him on almost every score regarding the way the NAA crisis has been handled. But this isn’t enough reason for me or anyone else to lie against him.
 
A couple of weeks ago Dr. Peter Obiefuna wrote an amazing piece on the NAA crisis and the kernel of his treatise was that the truth has already been laid bare and those who deny it do so at their own peril. And I do agree with him completely. The social movement led by Br. Idowu Ohieze and his young cohorts is credible and grounded in truth. It needs nothing else to give it legitimacy. What might kill the movement is untruth. And it will be a real shame if we muddle up this opportunity to straighten-up the mangled history of our community for our children.
 
With Warm Regards from Birmingham,

Paul
   
     


--
Paul Ushang Ugor, PhD
Newton and SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow
Centre of West African Studies
Arts Building
University of Birmingham, Egbaston Campus.
United Kingdom
B15 2TT

[Olumide Ogundipe]

Dear fellow Nigerians:

I apologize in advance if this reply to Dr. Paul Ugor's rebuttal bothers anyone. Dr. Ugor, while I consider your reaction to the rumor you claimed was spread about you a brave move, I could not understand some of the points you raised in your e-mail to us, the NAA members, this morning.

First, you said there was no reason for you or anyone to lie about the current NAA President. Perhaps, you should give that advice to Eugene Nnamani to stop telling us lies and telling lies about us.

Second, your comment about the social movement being led by Idowu Ohioze is not a bad opinion. Yet, I have a problem with the part in which you claim that untruth might kill that movement. Does that mean you're suggesting that the rumor you chose to debunk in your e-mail emanated from that group? So it reads to me. As one of the people who signed the famous letter now being labeled Idowu's letter, I find it difficult to ignore any claim which tends to portray the genuine call for accountability negative and personal. With all due respect, I honestly think you would properly state your case clearly rather than suggest another insinuation and counter-accusation whose intended target is ambivalent. I was not aware of this rumor until I read your e-mail this morning. I think it would be nice if you could call out anyone whom you perceive was responsible for spreading this rumor about you rather than implicate a good number of the NAA members who have had nothing to do with it at any time.

Finally, it is fair to say that there is no social movement being led by any one. From December to this time, more than ever, the agitation for accountability has been coming from many NAA members who feel that they cannot continue to pay annual dues for which there are no incentives and records. That is the main issue. It is important that we do not deviate from that. However, some of us have been louder than others on this matter so far. Some have courageously championed the cause without any ulterior motive, prejudice or hate. That, in my opinion,  still does not categorize these selfless agitators as a social movement being led by an individual. Here we have a group of concerned Nigerians who are poised to make sure the image of Nigeria, at least in Edmonton, is not fraught with decay and lack of integrity. There is need for us to hand over to our children, born and unborn, a positive and confident legacy. That is a prominent part of the zeal which drives this cause.


Kind regards!
Olu

--
Olumide Ogundipe
Doctoral Candidate and Principal Instructor
Department of English and Film Studies
University of Alberta

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of dream.
         ---- Eleanor Roosevelt