Entity Name: MECA USA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INC. Dept ID #: D04961165
This mail will mean nothing to you if you are not from Manyu, and if you are,you will be disappointed to know that the context is MECA-USA/MECA-DC. If you live in Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia, we generally refer to you as a MECA-DC member, that is, if you belong to the meeting and identify yourself as such. I became a member in 2004. It was not what you would exactly call a meeting then, in comparison to testimony of what it was before and what it became after. Don't be distracted by this statement.
My intention in this mail is to give you some background information on the MECA chapter in the DC area as you set to choose which chapter to belong to. You must belong to a meeting and you must attend often and you must participate. If you don’t, never complain.
Few things have happened here in DC in the past years that have shaped the organization the entire MECA-USA organization. Let me take you down recent memory lane. I know you are smart enough to tell what is fact, fiction, and or opinion.
Let’s begin in 2005, when there was a MECA-USA convention in Boston, an election convention. Dr. Besong was beaten by Mr. Egbe by a difference of 12 votes. That's a fact. Recently, I read a mail that puts the total at 70% vs. 30% for Mr. Egbe from Mr. Egbe. That means if the victor had 70 votes, the opponent had 30, a difference of 40% or if you want 40 people. We can still change the figures and call it 35 to 15 and you will still have a difference of 20% or 20 people. I know as one allergic to figures, I may have gotten this one wrong. I know for a fact that there were more than 100 people at that convention in Boston and either the 70% figure is a misrepresentation or I am wrong. I do not bring this up to discredit but to trace a pattern of lies that have gone unchallenged and thus taken credence with unreasonable people because reasonable people have failed to keep the records straight. By the way, I ran as PRO in that election against Mr. Egbe.
Few things have happened here in DC in the past years that have shaped the organization the entire MECA-USA organization. Let me take you down recent memory lane. I know you are smart enough to tell what is fact, fiction, and or opinion.
Let’s begin in 2005, when there was a MECA-USA convention in Boston, an election convention. Dr. Besong was beaten by Mr. Egbe by a difference of 12 votes. That's a fact. Recently, I read a mail that puts the total at 70% vs. 30% for Mr. Egbe from Mr. Egbe. That means if the victor had 70 votes, the opponent had 30, a difference of 40% or if you want 40 people. We can still change the figures and call it 35 to 15 and you will still have a difference of 20% or 20 people. I know as one allergic to figures, I may have gotten this one wrong. I know for a fact that there were more than 100 people at that convention in Boston and either the 70% figure is a misrepresentation or I am wrong. I do not bring this up to discredit but to trace a pattern of lies that have gone unchallenged and thus taken credence with unreasonable people because reasonable people have failed to keep the records straight. By the way, I ran as PRO in that election against Mr. Egbe.
In 2006, a mini convention held in Dallas. There was a hall controversy. I do not know the details, so I’ll pass on any commentary. Dr. Besong who lost the elections in 2005 attended with his family.
In 2007 there was an election in Houston. Registration and gate fees were collected, and if I judge by the crowd, at least $15k was collected, fundraising figures included. Both Mr. John Etta (Houston chapter chief), and Mr. Egbe (then outgoing chair of MECA-USA), if all went per the constitution, made $9,000 dollars and $6,000 respectively. I may once again be wrong in my figures as these are mere projections. Sometimes I have to slap myself to believe this really happened. A group contributed money and individuals show no accountability while the clan of savvy intellectuals sits down like a coward at a bravery contest: helpless. Why have Manyu people never asked Mr. Egbe and Mr Etta what they did with their money?
In 2007 there was an election in Houston. Registration and gate fees were collected, and if I judge by the crowd, at least $15k was collected, fundraising figures included. Both Mr. John Etta (Houston chapter chief), and Mr. Egbe (then outgoing chair of MECA-USA), if all went per the constitution, made $9,000 dollars and $6,000 respectively. I may once again be wrong in my figures as these are mere projections. Sometimes I have to slap myself to believe this really happened. A group contributed money and individuals show no accountability while the clan of savvy intellectuals sits down like a coward at a bravery contest: helpless. Why have Manyu people never asked Mr. Egbe and Mr Etta what they did with their money?
On July 7, 2007, Dr. Peter AKO won the elections by 1 vote. He was reaffirmed winner by the Council of Chiefs (COC) even after various protests and a petition put together by a man named Hamilton Ayuk who was then campaign manager for the team that lost the elections.
Dr. Peter AKO's opponents have never conceded to this date.
Things went very fast thence, downhill.
Two months later, on 09/13/2007. Philip Tabi and sympathizers of his cause sued MECA-USA in court in Silver Spring, MD (click here to revisit case) http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/inquiryDetail.jis?caseId=286747V&loc=68&detailLoc=MCCI
One month before that, on Thursday, August 16, 2007, and 7 weeks after he was no longer chairman, Mr. Solomon Egbe revived the status of an organization called MECA USA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INC. (MECA-USA's legal name, I guess) with Dept ID #: D04961165.
Why did Mr. Egbe revive the status of an entity that had expired on 10/06/2000, when he was neither chairman nor was he resident agent? All I know is that Mr. Egbe had NO business with the organization's 501c status especially after he ignored it for all four years that he was chair. The fact that it was done without the knowledge of the sitting administration adds another level of suspicion to it. See the documents here (http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/UCC-Charter/DisplayEntity_b.aspx?EntityID=D04961165&EntityName=MECA+USA+COMMUNITY+DEVELOPMENT%2c+INC.+++++++++++++++++++++++&TabNum=2 )
The 2003-2007 administration led by Mr. Solomon Egbe did not hand over the financial records, bank accounts, website, and cultural artifacts to the administration that took over from him. Mr. Egbe has cited publicly, at least three reasons he did not hand over the documents to the succeeding administration, even after the lawsuit had been withdrawn.
On October 20, 2007 the inauguration of Drs. AKO/Besong administration took place at the International Mall in Hyattsville, MD. The outgoing chairman, the election challenger, Mr. Philip Tabi and a group of MECA-DC (henceforth "The Group") all boycotted the event. It was a big success.
In 2008, a convention boycott (yes, again) was called by Mr. Hamilton Ayuk, who was Mr. Philip Tabi's campaign manager. Mr. Tabi, and most of his team members did not attend that convention, neither did Mr. Egbe.
On October 2nd, 2009 the status of the organization is once again in default FOR FAILURE TO FILE PROPERTY RETURN FOR 2008. The lawsuit being withdrawn, there was no use for it, or maybe benevolence had evaporated.
Three days to the 2009 MECA-USA 19th convention in DC. as the President of the host chapter I changed the venue of the convention because there was a threat that the convention could suffer the same fate as the legal status of the organization.
On Saturday, 297 members registered to vote or attend deliberations, a record! I bring this up because Ms. Ebini claimed on our (DC) meeting floor that she printed and distributed 300 T-shirts to her supporters (myself excluded) who were going to vote for her, hence she posited she was going to win. Lie or truth, you be the judge.
There was a disagreement over absentee ballots, a recent addition to the constitution in 2008. Mr. Cletus Ayuk others and I had voted against absentee ballots for different reasons. Mr. Ayuk because it had been rejected by the general assembly on numerous occasions and yours sincerely because it was a cumbersome and multi-step process.
A proposal was made that elections would go on and a team of members with established credibility were going to examine the absentee ballots one after the other and validate or reject them. That proposal, originally adopted by Ms. Ebini and Mr. Agbor was turned down by members of the Agbor/Ebini team under the influence of Mr. Hamilton Ayuk with whom I had concerted earlier (see unedited video).
Twice, we attempted to proceed with elections but the Agbor/Ebini team disrupted the process, kicking the ballot box, pushing members from California who stood in line ready to vote.
In 2008, a convention boycott (yes, again) was called by Mr. Hamilton Ayuk, who was Mr. Philip Tabi's campaign manager. Mr. Tabi, and most of his team members did not attend that convention, neither did Mr. Egbe.
On October 2nd, 2009 the status of the organization is once again in default FOR FAILURE TO FILE PROPERTY RETURN FOR 2008. The lawsuit being withdrawn, there was no use for it, or maybe benevolence had evaporated.
Three days to the 2009 MECA-USA 19th convention in DC. as the President of the host chapter I changed the venue of the convention because there was a threat that the convention could suffer the same fate as the legal status of the organization.
On Saturday, 297 members registered to vote or attend deliberations, a record! I bring this up because Ms. Ebini claimed on our (DC) meeting floor that she printed and distributed 300 T-shirts to her supporters (myself excluded) who were going to vote for her, hence she posited she was going to win. Lie or truth, you be the judge.
There was a disagreement over absentee ballots, a recent addition to the constitution in 2008. Mr. Cletus Ayuk others and I had voted against absentee ballots for different reasons. Mr. Ayuk because it had been rejected by the general assembly on numerous occasions and yours sincerely because it was a cumbersome and multi-step process.
A proposal was made that elections would go on and a team of members with established credibility were going to examine the absentee ballots one after the other and validate or reject them. That proposal, originally adopted by Ms. Ebini and Mr. Agbor was turned down by members of the Agbor/Ebini team under the influence of Mr. Hamilton Ayuk with whom I had concerted earlier (see unedited video).
Twice, we attempted to proceed with elections but the Agbor/Ebini team disrupted the process, kicking the ballot box, pushing members from California who stood in line ready to vote.
The police who had been on standby due to threats made by certain members was given the go ahead to close deliberations and evacuate the hall.
A gala held later that evening. About three hundred people attended that gala.
On Monday July 13th at 9 p.m. eastern the council of chiefs met. I was part of that meeting. We examined a petition by Dr. Peter Ako (letter) and heard an argument by Major Fidelis Agbor, present as the chapter chief of GA. After deliberations, the reins of the NEC were trusted into the hands of Drs. Peter Ako and Samuel Besong. Yours sincerely was one of two votes that requested that Dr. Ako be chairman for one year while we sought ourselves out and seek ways to repair the association. We were guided among other things by the fact that in deciding otherwise, we would set a dangerous path/precedent for the association where all that would be needed for anyone to be discarded as a contender would be to disrupt elections, that we could not define a neutral member per demands that an interim body of neutral Manyu women or men be put in place, it would be difficult for an interim organization to step in and continue with the complex state of affairs in place. Looking back, I think we may have failed to define a pathway for healing.
Two weeks later Ms. Ebini, who served with me in the same administration as Secretary General made this announcement via email on 7/27/09Dear MECA DC Members,
Following COC's decision to hand over power to the ako/besong team until 2011 as a result of an aborted election, through deliberations at the MECA DC meeting held on 7/25/2009 in Laurel, MD, a member presented a motion that among other things called for MECA DC to function as an independent chapter but allowing the possibility of joining a Meca USA caretaker government until new elections are carried out.
Take note of the section in bold. Ms. Ebini is a very smart lady, I do not make this statement lightly. I can assure you that as truly as I have recognized Ms. Ebini's remarkable memory, no such clause was presented. Also omitted from this email either by design or inadvertence (you be the judge) is the time that this "independence" was going to last: two years. As president I sat and watched The Group "spontaneously" read from a typed/written paper and pass the vote. The division of MECA-USA had started.
Two weeks later Ms. Ebini, who served with me in the same administration as Secretary General made this announcement via email on 7/27/09Dear MECA DC Members,
Following COC's decision to hand over power to the ako/besong team until 2011 as a result of an aborted election, through deliberations at the MECA DC meeting held on 7/25/2009 in Laurel, MD, a member presented a motion that among other things called for MECA DC to function as an independent chapter but allowing the possibility of joining a Meca USA caretaker government until new elections are carried out.
Take note of the section in bold. Ms. Ebini is a very smart lady, I do not make this statement lightly. I can assure you that as truly as I have recognized Ms. Ebini's remarkable memory, no such clause was presented. Also omitted from this email either by design or inadvertence (you be the judge) is the time that this "independence" was going to last: two years. As president I sat and watched The Group "spontaneously" read from a typed/written paper and pass the vote. The division of MECA-USA had started.
The Group will repeat the process with the same success in June 2010 when it voted to join the TRC.
Other chapters by some "miracle" made similar moves: GA, Dallas, North Carolina, all voted something along those lines with a slight variation. The theme was the same: stay clear of MECA-USA with the end result of crippling and frustrating its leadership until The Group is heard.
August 2009 members who were absent from the MECA-DC meeting are outraged and prepare to reverse the vote during the next meeting. It doesn't happen. Most of them express their desire to stand behind MECA-USA, and decide to form another association: MECA-Maryland Tristate. It is very important for any new Manyu person wishing to join MECA in the DC area to know that the MECA-DC meeting split because supporters of the current NEC led by Dr. Peter AKO did not like the "INDEPENDENT" stance voted by MECA-DC on July 25 2007.
September 2009, my term of office as MECA-DC President ends.
Later that month Major Agbor invites the Manyu community to attend a Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) meeting in Atlanta.
On Saturday, September 26, 2009, two meetings take place in the DC area: MECA-DC and MECA-MD Tristate.
On Saturday, October 10th 2009 the scheduled TRC holds in Atlanta. Ms. Ebini later claimed "two hundred or so Manyu and MECA USA members [ ...] participated in that conference". It really doesn't matter how many people participated, but was that number thrown in there carelessly or was it by design? See for yourself: videos and pix don't lie http://www.mecausaconference.blogspot.com/
That conference decided that the next MECA-USA convention was going to take place in Atlanta. Judging from its name, some of us were stunned by its stance to hold a separate convention different from that billed for Chicago in 2010.
An interim administration was put in place headed by Mr. Maurice Enoh. Later on, this "neutral" son will be handed the reins of MECA-TRC-USA
Other chapters by some "miracle" made similar moves: GA, Dallas, North Carolina, all voted something along those lines with a slight variation. The theme was the same: stay clear of MECA-USA with the end result of crippling and frustrating its leadership until The Group is heard.
August 2009 members who were absent from the MECA-DC meeting are outraged and prepare to reverse the vote during the next meeting. It doesn't happen. Most of them express their desire to stand behind MECA-USA, and decide to form another association: MECA-Maryland Tristate. It is very important for any new Manyu person wishing to join MECA in the DC area to know that the MECA-DC meeting split because supporters of the current NEC led by Dr. Peter AKO did not like the "INDEPENDENT" stance voted by MECA-DC on July 25 2007.
September 2009, my term of office as MECA-DC President ends.
Later that month Major Agbor invites the Manyu community to attend a Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) meeting in Atlanta.
On Saturday, September 26, 2009, two meetings take place in the DC area: MECA-DC and MECA-MD Tristate.
On Saturday, October 10th 2009 the scheduled TRC holds in Atlanta. Ms. Ebini later claimed "two hundred or so Manyu and MECA USA members [ ...] participated in that conference". It really doesn't matter how many people participated, but was that number thrown in there carelessly or was it by design? See for yourself: videos and pix don't lie http://www.mecausaconference.blogspot.com/
That conference decided that the next MECA-USA convention was going to take place in Atlanta. Judging from its name, some of us were stunned by its stance to hold a separate convention different from that billed for Chicago in 2010.
An interim administration was put in place headed by Mr. Maurice Enoh. Later on, this "neutral" son will be handed the reins of MECA-TRC-USA
Back in DC, The Group that voted to oust MECA-DC from the MECA-USA arena started plans to partner the chapter to their TRC-MECA-USA. It was going to be an easy task with all resistance gone. However a few people stood in their way including their current President who used to enjoy some support from The Group.
On March 30 2010, three months before the conventions, the status of the organization is once again revived with three changes made this time: change of principal office, resident agent, and resident agent address. Today, the resident agent is no longer Mr. Solomon Egbe, but Mr. Emmanuel Mondi. Mr. Mondi's home also serves as the principal's office and resident agent's address. See the entire document here. It should be noted that Mr. Mondi has not held any position of responsibility, at least for the time that I have been a MECA-USA member. How he ends up as resident agent beats me.
On March 30 2010, three months before the conventions, the status of the organization is once again revived with three changes made this time: change of principal office, resident agent, and resident agent address. Today, the resident agent is no longer Mr. Solomon Egbe, but Mr. Emmanuel Mondi. Mr. Mondi's home also serves as the principal's office and resident agent's address. See the entire document here. It should be noted that Mr. Mondi has not held any position of responsibility, at least for the time that I have been a MECA-USA member. How he ends up as resident agent beats me.
As the two planned conventions fast approached, something had to be done in order for TRC-MECA-USA not to look like it had only four chapters (Dallas, GA, Chicago-Tri and NC). DC was desperately needed, so once again, in an almost similar situation to that in July 2009 MECA-DC, in the words of one of its very respectable and respected members, former chief, MECA-DC "took a decision to join the TRC and attend the Atlanta convention as a chapter."
I am not a member of that meeting. That last vote completely justifies my decision, and I guess that of many others to leave the meeting. For those who care to know, I was completely torn between working with people with whom I hardly ever agreed with on anything or working with people who stood by me and gave me their shoulders to lean on when I needed support. I chose the latter. I still have lots of friends in the MECA-DC meeting, I wish them and the meeting well.
From Thursday, July 1st to Sunday, July 4th two separate conventions held in Atlanta and Dallas. I hear the convention in Atlanta was very successful. I have also seen this old ogre of numbers surface in an email or two about the GA convention. The convention in Dallas was successful in some respects but failed to meet my expectations. Logistics was an A+, attendance was a B- mostly because of the distance and also because it was a mini convention. I'll put the figures at about 80 conventioneers, give and take a few. The convention for once centered around meaningful discussions like business, how to choose a business, what to do to attract younger people, absentee ballots, etc. I presume there was no bickering from either convention. Personally, I came out satisfied.
I am not a member of that meeting. That last vote completely justifies my decision, and I guess that of many others to leave the meeting. For those who care to know, I was completely torn between working with people with whom I hardly ever agreed with on anything or working with people who stood by me and gave me their shoulders to lean on when I needed support. I chose the latter. I still have lots of friends in the MECA-DC meeting, I wish them and the meeting well.
From Thursday, July 1st to Sunday, July 4th two separate conventions held in Atlanta and Dallas. I hear the convention in Atlanta was very successful. I have also seen this old ogre of numbers surface in an email or two about the GA convention. The convention in Dallas was successful in some respects but failed to meet my expectations. Logistics was an A+, attendance was a B- mostly because of the distance and also because it was a mini convention. I'll put the figures at about 80 conventioneers, give and take a few. The convention for once centered around meaningful discussions like business, how to choose a business, what to do to attract younger people, absentee ballots, etc. I presume there was no bickering from either convention. Personally, I came out satisfied.
In Atlanta, they chose Maurice Enoh over two very "wonderful candidates that they have proposed to MECA-USA in the past.
There are lots of people who are sitting on the fence and now speak about MECA-USA from the third person, waiting for its unity to join again. There are also those who are disappointed. There are many who are very involved on the internet, and some show up sporadically at meetings etc. If that’s you, you are doing a disservice to MECA/Manyu because maybe with your presence we wouldn't be in this mess today. Others want to read reports from the conventions, pass judgment surreptitiously on those running the association from a comfortable "neutral” position. If you are one of them, I urge you to get involved. It doesn't matter which meeting you attend; NOMA, MECA-USA, MECA-TRC-USA, as long as you are engaged and active.
There are lots of people who are sitting on the fence and now speak about MECA-USA from the third person, waiting for its unity to join again. There are also those who are disappointed. There are many who are very involved on the internet, and some show up sporadically at meetings etc. If that’s you, you are doing a disservice to MECA/Manyu because maybe with your presence we wouldn't be in this mess today. Others want to read reports from the conventions, pass judgment surreptitiously on those running the association from a comfortable "neutral” position. If you are one of them, I urge you to get involved. It doesn't matter which meeting you attend; NOMA, MECA-USA, MECA-TRC-USA, as long as you are engaged and active.
In the next entry, I will try to understand why we have so
many factions in MECA-USA. Check back later.
many factions in MECA-USA. Check back later.
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