Austin Agbahiwe and the Burden of Responsibility.
5 min read
Dr Austin Chidi Agbahiwe, the former Global Administrator, New Umuaka Project Initiative NUPI, has been a subject of many controversies in the last couple of years concerning the activities of NUPI. For long, many people had asked Umuaka Times to seek an interview with Dr Agbahiwe, we did and Agbahiwe himself who is the Managing Director, American Cancer Hospital Nigeria, agreed to hold talks with Umuaka Times at the right time.
This week is the right time many Akalites have been waiting for in order to hear from Dr Agbahiwe on how he ran the affairs of NUPI. In more than 73 page document, Dr Agbahiwe prepared and submitted the account of his stewardship to the new government of NUPI. He spoke with Umuaka Times on how he ran the controversial organization in what he titled, The Burden of Responsibility.”
Pease read on.
You just released a professionally audited accounts of NUPI, why did it take so long?
All the NUPI periodic accounts over the years were released long ago at the appropriate times and had been on NUPI platforms. It became imperative that a comprehensive handover document be shared beyond NUPI, following the expiration of my tenure that ushered in a new leadership in the organization. That, is called accountability.
You titled the financial exercise, The Burden of Responsibility, why that title?
I am sure you understand the meaning of a “burden”. The context makes the use inevitable.
The accounts you rendered also highlighted on those owing NUPI, have you people reached out to them to redeem their pledges?
Yes, but not as aggressive or as persuasive as we would have loved to.
In the account, there is a paragraph titled, 2020 In –House Botched “Coup d’etat”. Can you explain further?
Coup is the term used to describe a non-constitutional or illegal “take over” or an attempt to change a government by a rebel group. That’s the right word to describe the actions of some individuals in NUPI in mid 2020, that was maturely quashed by my administration.
Did the government of NUPI report this incident to the police then?
NUPI has her internal mechanism of dealing with such acts and it was appropriately activated.
That’s great. Dr Agbahiwe, why the illegal attempt to take over the government, does NUPI have a faction or an aggrieved party?
According to the NUPI Constitution, anyone who has not paid his/her dues is not a member. We do not have any faction.
On the BOT of NUPI, you have been accused by critics of using people from a faction of NUPI, what is your take on that?
As you are aware, I have handed over the administration of NUPI to a new leadership, whom I am sure acts in line with our collective interest. Again, it is only NUPI members in good financial standing that can be appointed as BOT members.
Ok this aggrieved party or faction, do you feel their pain in any way, or is it a case of pull him down syndrome?
You mean the coup plotters?
Yes.
Which pain do they have?
You have given a concise and comprehensive account of your financial stewardship with up to date facts, are you aware that some NUPI members have accused you and your team of either embezzlement of funds or misappropriation of funds? What do you say to that?
Talks are cheap, but facts are stubborn. They speak for themselves. Moreover, this subject is subjudiced.
But did you or any member of NUPI under your stewardship, embezzle or misappropriate any fund?
Not to my knowledge.
What do you think may have sparked the accusations?
It will be more appropriate to ask those who accused us.
Now your accusers are still with you in NUPI, have you forgiven them or still hoping to do so?
Only those that are up to date with their dues are referred to as NUPI members. I have no accusers in NUPI to the best of my knowledge.
Can you tell us where your accusers got the fact that NUPI money was missing?
Please go and ask them.
Do you personally know Dr T.J. Ehirim very well? If yes, what type of personality is he?
No comment.
Is Dr Ehirim a member of NUPI?
I have told you that one of the major criteria of being an NUPI member is payment of dues, up-to-date dues after one has been admitted.
Dr Ehirim is planning to become the next chief occupant of Douglas House, what is your take on his ambition?
Success in any venture comes from God who sees our inner minds.
NUPI recently acquired some parcels of land in Orodo, can you explain to us about the project?
It is at the boundary of Orodo and Umuaka from Amiyi Akah. A work-in-progress, it will become NUPI’s operational and activities base.
How much did it cost NUPI to acquire the land?
The information is already in the public domain. Every information about the financials of NUPT as at the time of my handover, is contained in the handover note.
Can you tell us the modality for allocation of the land?
The current leadership will be in a better position to discuss this with you.
Now what is the next plan for NUPI?
Our going forward thrust will centre on the recovery of the years eaten by the locusts and continue our positive march towards making Umuaka great. We will also follow the trend and watch the space.
Are you in any way pained that many Akalites who are both NUPI members and others who are not, elevated the argument that you and your team are corrupt?
That is “the burden of responsibility.” He who asserts must prove.
So in your own views, what is the burden of responsibility?
The poverty of man’s faith and convincement, especially in financial matters when lies are painted to look real. The rapidity of people to buy into “change of narratives”, even when they know one’s pedigree and proven track records. The conundrum surrounding the loneliness of life!
Does pull him down syndrome exist in Umuaka?
It is you who said so! The facts are there.
I didn’t say so, I only posed a question. Please what is your last word for NUPI and other Akalites?
Pray for, and support your leaders and help them to succeed and achieve tangible deliverables, at least for your own sake. Let us support NUPI to develop Umuaka, in generic terms.
Thanks a lot Dr Agbahiwe, Umuaka Times will surely come back to you.
Thank you very much.
