•Mrs Sophia Mbakwe
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has moved to withdraw its petition against the appointment of Mrs Sophia Mbakwe into the NNPCL Business Services Division.
It was earlier reported that a petition by the socio-cultural group which was laid on the floor of the House of Representatives by Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere seeking the sack of Mrs Mbakwe from the business unit of the multinational oil sector regulator.
OYC had argued that Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe is from a non-SouthEast state and lacks the capacity to represent Igbos on the board as the Executive Vice President, Business Services of the NNPCL, reports Daily Independent.
In a twist of events, today, two days after it submitted its petition to the Legislature, the group in another letter to the Public Petition Committee of the House of Representatives notified of their decision to withdraw the earlier submitted petition.
In the letter, dated November 12, signed by Comrade Igboayaka Igboayaka, President of OYC, and Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nweke, Secretary General, they notified the House that they confirmed from reliable sources that the initial facts upon which the petition was based were misleading.
The petition read in part, “WITHDRAWAL OF PETITION AGAINST MRS. SOPHIA MBAKWE: The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) writes to formally withdraw the petition earlier submitted against the appointment of Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe into the NNPCL Business Services Division.
We have confirmed from reliable sources that the initial facts upon which our petition was based were misleading but have now verified that Mrs. Mbakwe, the wife of our late son Mr. Theo Mbakwe, is a respected professional with strong qualifications and has an outstanding resume which is deserving of such an appointment.
“In view of these findings, we hereby withdraw the petition in its entirety and apologise for any inconvenience caused. We extend our apologies to Mr. President, the Speaker of the House, the Public Petitions Committee, and the NNPCL management for the earlier misrepresentation.
The Ohanaeze Youth Council remains committed to constructive engagement and to supporting efforts that ensure fairness and inclusion in national development.”
