The President General of Eziowelle Improvement Union, EIU, Barr. Titus Akpudo, has described the alleged take over of the town union leadership by EIU General Assembly as ploy to cause confusion by few individuals who are indebted to the community.
Three EIU branch Chairmen and Secretaries, namely; Mr. Ezenwa Azie and Barr. Ekene Arubulueze – Abuja, Mr. Anthony Oragui and Comrade Chukwubuike Okafor – Lagos, and Mr. Chimezie Chukwuka and Mr. Chukwudi Okeke – Onitsha had issued press release informing the general public that “the administration of Eziowelle Improvement Union (EIU) has been taken over by the General Assembly, to enable them convene an emergency meeting aimed at chatting a new course for the community”.
They further urged the state government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs “to toe the path of honour by cooperating with the General Assembly to return Eziowelle back to civilization in the interest of the greatest majority who voted for Professor Chukwuma Soludo in the last governorship election”.
But addressing journalists in Awka over the matter, Barr. Akpudo, who doubles as the National President of Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU, said the recent publication by the group he said are insignificant in number is frivolous, malicious, and intended to cause disunity.
He however said that the Eziowelle community in Idemili North LGA has remained peaceful, even as he addressed the press.
Stating that Eziowelle has 27 branches, Barr. Akpudo explained that his findings revealed that non of the 3 branches mentioned in the publication held meetings to arrive at the decision being spread by the same people he said have done similar thing after his election into office in 2019.
Specifically, the Eziowelle PG said that Mr Ezenwa Azie, who lives in Eziowelle and is not financially up to date in the community, cannot be said to be the Chairman of Abuja branch of EIU, warning that the law will take it’s course if he and his group breaks into the town’s secretariat.
He reminded the publics that the group had tried to stop the election that produced him as the PG, demanding that the community should amend it’s constitution to favor them.
Continuing, Barr. Akpudo said that when he came on board as the PG, he constituted committees, including constitution review, in line with what has been on ground by his predecessor, after which the constitution review committee got input from branches, relevant groups and individuals in the community.
He said that the amended constitution was passed at the national convention of December 2020, providing for the rotation of town union offices for four-year single tenure, starting from Ubulu village, which was accepted by people at the convention as equitable, fair and just.
When he later set up peace and reconciliation committee to see if Ezenwa Azie and co-travellers would be united, it didn’t help because the “noisemakers” couldn’t discontinue their cases in courts; as all concerned parties were directed.
On alleged unwillingness to relinquish power, the Eziowelle PG said information has been sent to Ubulu village from the town’s secretariat since October 2023 to produce people that will contest for the PG position, adding that the village concluded the exercise on 13th April, and date of election fixed for 29th June 2024; with all Eziowelle branches, ASATU and Anambra State Government duely informed.
Stating that envy is pushing the Ezenwa Azie and co-travellers after their many petitions to government to remove him as ASATU President failed, Barr. Akpudo alleged that same people had hired town criers to discourage people from voting Soludo during his election.
He insisted that the people’s actions are not constitutional as their branches can not even remit money meant for the mother union since 2018.
Barr. Akpudo further alleged that the said Ezenwa Azie sent people to him to zone PG position to his village to enable him (Ezenwa) be the PG if their new constitution must work.
On allegation that he and the Igwe are conspiring to set Eziowelle community ablaze, the PG said the “noisemakers” are not happy with his good working relationship with their Igwe, unlike what happens in some communities.
Barr. Akpudo regretted that with N100 data, one, especially bloggers, can say that Nigeria is on fire, and people will believe, insisting however the Eziowelle community has remained peaceful, and is ready for the election coming up in June.