Why Governor Soludo Should Save Onitsha Sports Club By Don Ebubeogu

A few days ago, I learned about the complete takeover of the Onitsha Sports Club by members of the Okposieke family, led by Barr. Harold Ekwerekwu.

Onitsha Sports Club was established in 1924 by the colonial government.

The Okposieke family claims that they leased the entire GRA, including the subject property, to the colonial government and that this lease expired in 1999. This matter has been the subject of ongoing litigation between the parties.

I am not preempting the court’s decision or taking sides with any party. However, as a stakeholder in both the Onitsha Sports Club and the Onitsha GRA community, I find it disturbing that this issue has reached the point of such disagreement and a forceful takeover.

We can never dream of elevating Onitsha into a megacity without guaranteeing access to the basic amenities we inherited from the colonial government. They designed the GRA as a masterful enclave for government officials, expatriates, and the upper class, with provisions for recreation and relaxation.

We have been celebrating the construction of Awka Fun City and its recreation club built by the Soludo Administration. It is, therefore, reasonable to expect the same government to save the one in Onitsha by summoning both parties to a meeting to safeguard the sanctity of the Onitsha Sports Club.

Nobody owns the Onitsha Sports Club. It is a public institution that must be protected by the government, even if it means acquiring the land from the family or compensating them. 

It would be a shame and totally irresponsible if the management of the Onitsha Sports Club and the Ekwerekwu family, while fighting over the property, allow the complex to be destroyed simply because they didn't care enough to consider the interest of the larger society.

Let those close to the governor bring this to his attention. I strongly doubt he has been briefed about this crisis and the vacuum that the obliteration of the Onitsha Sports Club portends for the Onitsha megacity.

I'm also appealing to Barr. Harold Ekwerekwu and family to suspend their possession activities.

May reason and overriding public interest prevail.

Don Ebubeogu is the MD/CEO of Tiger Foods Ltd and a stakeholder in Onitsha business community.