By Uzo Ugwunze
The people of Akwu-Ukwu community in Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State. have elected new leadership of their Akwu-Ukwu Improvement Union (AIU) with Comrade Udoka Ejiakor emerging as the new president general.
The election which held at St John Catholic Church, Akwu-Ukwu field on Tuesday was peaceful and witnessed the presence of key stakeholders including the Anambra State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment & Tourism, Mr Don Onyenji, among others.
Addressing the community, the State Commissioner advised politicians, community stakeholders and security agencies to shun partisanship, personal interest but allow communities choose their own leaders without undue interference.
According to Don Onyenji, “let us allow communities to choose their leaders. Communities should make sure they play to the general good of the community especially when it comes to election. All these partitioning and partisanship gives an impression that people are struggling to go and eat from the community purse rather than to serve.
“Here in Akwu-Ukwu the message is clear, an attempt to thwart the general good of the town was frustrated and the people are happy to have elected their leaders freely and fairly”.
“The new Akwu-Ukwu Improvement Union (AIU) executives have seen that the people love them and chose them against all odds. People have entrusted responsibility on them to lead for the next three years. I advise them to be inclusive, put their ears to the ground, do consultations, endeavor to work with the State government and key to Governor Charles Soludo’s vision to enable us attract more democracy dividends to Akwuukwu community,” said Onyenji.
Moreover, another Akwu-Ukwu community stakeholder, CEO Linctech Scientific Ltd, Mr Basil Okwumuo advised security agencies to be transparent and should not allow bad eggs in the community to misguide their actions.
“Let everyone love his town. Let your ambition be to get the best people as leaders who will move your community forward. Every community has bad eggs and things go wrong when the bad eggs overpower the good people.
“I am happy that the good heads in Akwuukwu community triumphed today. Security agents should be straight forward and transparent when discharging their duties.
“Earlier today a team of joint security forces comprising of the police and special squad Anambra Vigilante Services stormed this place, brandishing their assault rifles and ordered everyone to leave the election arena if not for our intervention. They claimed they were sent by the Area commander to effect a court injunction to stop the AIU election but when I and the Honorable Commissioner,Onyenji demanded for a proof of the court injunction notice they could not show it until they were ordered by their superiors to retreat,” alleged Okwumuo.
The Outgoing AIU, President General, Hon Uche Anayo said he was happy that the election was not scuttled urging his successor, Mr Udoka Ejiakor to do better than he did by carrying every member of the Akwuukwu community along. “It is over 20 years now since our late Igwe embarked on his ancestral journey, I also hope that the selection of a new traditional ruler for Akwu-Ukwu community which its consultations began in my administration would be realized in the incoming administration,” said Anayo.
However, the newly elected AIU executives include, President General, Mr. Udoka Ejiakor who polled 177 Votes to be declared winner.
Others are Vice President: Chief Ifemeka Nwoji, Secretary: Uzochukwu Onwuanuba, Assistant Secretary: Uche Anielunwa, Treasurer: Basil Ezenwa, Financial Secretary: Chibueze Uboh, PRO 1/Publicity Secretary: Jude Anierobi, PRO 2: Osita Onuigwe and Mr Okwudili Igbobueme who was appointed as Home Affairs by the PG.
In his vote of thanks, the new PG, Comrade Udoka Ejiakor thanked the Electoral Committee led by Mr. Paul Obi and his Secretary Amb Rapmore Michelin for their doggedness and transparency, Ejiakor also thanked the entire Akwuukwu people for giving him and the new executive members their mandate.
“Since,I began my campaign, I made it clear that as a veteran journalist and retired civil servant I have lived with contentment, other PGs may be after money or lands to sell but I love my town and I am here to take Akwuukwu to the next level. With unity and integrity we shall move this community forward to be the envy of our neighbors,” said Ejiakor.
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