BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka
Despite clandestine plots, vain attempts, make-believe court injunctions and social media falsehoods orchestrated by enemies of progress in Eziowelle community to thwart the town union election, the Civic Centre was filled to capacity at the weekend as all the branches of Eziowelle Improvement Union (EIU) in the country trooped out en masse to elect new officers in a very tranquil atmosphere.
The EIU election which eventually produced Dr. Julian Obiora as the new President-General of Eziowelle Improvement Union (EIU) was adjudged to be the most credible and most transparent election ever held in Eziowelle community.
Although there were incessant threats of disrupting the EIU election by a few insignificant disgruntled elements who didn't want the election to hold due to inordinate ambitions but the immediate past President-General Barr. Titus Nnabuike Akpudo, who had been weathering the storms, surmounted the machinations of his antagonists insisting that Eziowelle community must make meaningful milestones especially as it concerns the conduct of Eziowelle Improvement Union election.
The EIU election which was witnessed by the Transition Committee Chairman of Idemili-North Local Government Area Hon. Stanley Nkwoka, ASATU members, representative of the Local Government Commissioner Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne (Ife Anam) and a host of other very important personalities, was an eloquent testimony that Eziowelle is a peace-loving community blessed with both human and natural resources.
The new President-General of EIU Dr. Julian Obiora who spoke exclusively to journalist Raymond Ozoji shortly after his emergence, said he has the task of uniting and reconciling his people to ensure that Eziowelle moved forward.
Although the new PG observed that Eziowelle has been lagging behind due to unhealthy situation in the community but he equally expressed optimism that his emergence will make Eziowelle unite for peace, progress and development.
The new PG however pointed out that roads in Eziowelle community were terribly bad coupled with juvenile delinquencies amongst youths, lack of shelter and joblessness amongst the womenfolk as well as help for the indigents and downtrodden.
He was therefore of the opinion that the tasks ahead were enormous but there is an urgent need for the people to unite to enable the new executives of the town union to galvanise them for the needed transformations in Eziowelle community.
The TC chairman Idemili-North council area where Eziowelle belonged, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka who said it was his very first official engagement, passed a vote of confidence on the conduct of the EIU election; declaring that it was free and fair.
Nkwoka observed that there was no crisis or disruptions whatsoever in the conduct of Eziowelle Improvement Union election.
He therefore urged the new President-General and his executives to align themselves with Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo's government for the development of Eziowelle town while urging the people also to support as well as rally round the new executives of the town union to enable them serve them better.
Meanwhile Chief Michael Nweke Okechukwu who represented the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, noted that after series of meetings with the community, Eziowelle Improvement Union election was eventually held and the people conducted themselves in the most perfect manner beyond the expectations of observers and visitors.
The representative of the Local Government Commissioner noted that the election was so peaceful, transparent and generally accepted by the people even as he also commended the display of spirit of sportsmanship by the contestants.
He however mentioned that certain stakeholders in Eziowelle like the out-gone PG Barr. Titus Nnabuike Akpudo played very pivotal role to ensure that the EIU election was conducted successfully.
He equally extended commendations to the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne for his patience, maturity and wisdom in handling town union matters.
Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo was not exempted from the eulogies as the Commissioner's representative thanked the governor for providing an enabling environment with watertight security which he said aided the peaceful conduct of Eziowelle Improvement Union election.
On his part, national laison officer (south senatorial zone) of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) and palace secretary of the traditional ruler of Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area, Amb. Ikechukwu Okeke, observed that the EIU election was very peaceful and that Barr. Titus Nnabuike Akpudo has set standards on how secret ballots can be done successfully without rancour.
Amb. Okeke said the people of Eziowelle conducted themselves in a very civil manner and there was no chaos whatsoever. He said that the peaceful conduct of the election showed that the people have been yearning for it, adding that there was no single disturbance anywhere during the EIU election.
He however charged the new leadership of Eziowelle Improvement Union to start working on peace because he believes that the peace and unity of Eziowelle community is of paramount importance.
The out-gone President-General Hon. Barr. Titus Nnabuike Akpudo, who currently functions as the national president of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), thanked God for a successful election, saying that the people of Eziowelle were very delighted with what transpired at the Civic Centre.
Akpudo said they have learnt lessons from the past and he is very certain that the lessons learnt would be foundation for sustainable development and good leadership moving ahead. He described the EIU election as the most credible and most successful election ever held in the history of Eziowelle community.
He therefore expressed profound gratitude to the people of Eziowelle, the electoral committee led by Dr. Laz Okafor and his friends for standing by him through thick and tin.
He also expressed appreciations to Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo whom he said has ensured that there are democratically elected town union executives in every community in Anambra State.
Akpudo who described the Local Government Commissioner Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne as a round peg in a round hole, prayed that God will continue to give him the wisdom to enthrone peace and stability in community town unions.
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