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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Oba Town, Idemili South LGA, Anambra State last Sunday took a bold step towards restoring lasting peace in the community and moving forward development –wise with the successful election of a new executives of Oba Patriotic Union (OPU)
The absence of the elected town union executives had made it impossible to elect a new traditional ruler for the community since the demise of the former traditional ruler ,Igwe P.C Ezenwa in 2018.
The Anambra State Government had through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Affairs, created the Interim Town Union Government, ITUG which many saw as alien to the constitution of Oba . However, one of the terms of reference given to the ITUG was the election of new executives of the OPU by the end of December 2023.
To this end, an electoral committee was constituted with elected 5 delegates each from every umunna in the nine villages of the community who filed out to elect their new leadership of the town union.
After a keenly contested election, Engr. Anthony Uzochukwu Ejiofor from Umuogali village emerged the President General of the community, having polled 370 votes to defeat his only opponent, Ogechukwu Obasoanya, who got 179 votes.
Nwabueze Emebo of Isu village was elected Secretary General with 187 votes defeating his opponents Obi Ejikeme Nathaniel and Onyeka Egwuatu who scored 159 and 129 votes respectively. The office of the Chief Provost was also keenly contested by Maduabum Dennis, Ifeneti Emeka Daniel and Nwokolo Tobenna Alex all of Ezele village quarter with Ifeneti taking the lead by narrow margin.
Other positions elected unopposed at the election duly monitored by the Transition Committee Chairman of Idemili South LGA, Hon Amaka Obi and officials of the State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Affairs, Awka. were Ist Vice President General, Elder Emeka Joseph Okafor, 3rd Vice President General, Mr Emmanuel Maduemere, Financial SecretaryOraekwe Arinze Obidimma, Pro Obinwa Onyebuchi Michael, Ist Assistant Secretary, Ikwueme Edwin, Welfare Ibe Chijioke, 3rd Provost, Nkechi Ebuka Daniel and 4th provost, Maduanusi Ifeanyi Moses.
The Electoral Committee Chairman, Mr Obodoekwe, while announcing the results, said the exercise was keenly contested and the winners duly emerged.
Earlier in her remarks, the Idemili South TC Chairman, Hon Obi said the state government is interested in promoting peace across all communities of the state, through the entrenchment of democratically-elected town union executives.
She said the Oba election was critical because of how strategic the community is to the Council area and the state, saying the government presence was to ensure that things were done the right way.
On the newly-elected town union executives, Obi charged them to work in accordance with the constitution of the community and carry everybody along in their development efforts.
The regent of the town, Prince Noel Ezenwa in his speech, said Oba Community has once again by the election, expressed their readiness to begin the journey of rebuilding their homeland.
Congratulating the new executives, Prince Ezenwa maintained that Oba is one and the bond of brotherliness among them must be nurtured at all times.
For his part, the Chairman of the out gone Interim Government of the Community, Sir Osita Ubadi expressed delight that they were able to accomplish the tasks assigned them by the state government, as well as other achievements for the community, urging the new executives, to work towards giving the community a befitting traditional ruler in the nearest future.
According to him, the election was one of the most transparent conducted in the history of Oba as a community.
In his acceptance speech, the new Oba PG, Engr Ejiofor, described their election as the handiwork of God and commended the past ITUG and the electoral committee for delivering a transparent and credible election to Oba people.
He promised to work together with his co-contestants and all critical stakeholders in Oba Community to bring about the long expected peace, unity and development in the town.
“The expectations of the great people of Oba will be met, as our tenure will be as transparent as possible and focused on meeting the demands of our people.
“In the past, we have had serious security challenges but we are going to review our security strategies and strengthen the security architecture to ensure that such challenges do not repeat again, even beyond our regime.
“We look forward to restore the peace and unity of our people, as a key agenda of our administration.
“”I will, in my address to Ndi Oba soon, present a detailed development agenda for the community.
“Once again I thank God Almighty and congratulate Ndi Oba to whom this victory primarily belongs and I extend my hand of fellowship to my colleagues in the executive and enjoin them to join me in this onerous task of uniting and rebuilding our dear town Oba ebo iteghete.” He said.
