President-General of Ibeku Egwu Asaa Development Association (IEADA), Chief Emeka Enyiazu, says the priority of his administration is to build a united Ibeku.
Enyiazu made this known during the maiden meeting organised by his executive to brief the people on the achievements recorded by his administration since it was elected in December last year.
IEADA is the umbrella socio-cultural organisation of Ibeku clan in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The association has been hit by division since the December 26, 2016 IEADA delegates’ conference produced two parallel executives with Enyiazu leading one faction and High Chief Princewill Ukaegbu leading the other group.
However, the Enyiazu’s faction went to court and obtained an injunction restraining the Ukaegbu-led executive from parading themselves as leaders of IEADA.
Addressing the meeting held at Isieke Ibeku, Enyiazu said “the main goal of this administration is to build a united Ibeku where persons called to service will place Ibeku first before self; Ibeku where youth restiveness will be minimised through apprenticeship scheme; Ibeku where political ambition will not be allowed to override development and Ibeku where Ndi Eze will be recognised and respected and expected to play traditional roles and not political functions.”
Enyiazu noted that though his administration was quite young, it has recorded significant achievements which include enlarging the IEADA administrative structure to include the seven town union presidents of Ibeku clan as well as chairmen and secretaries of Ibeku origin, appointed into governing boards.
He also told the gathering that his executive paid a courtesy visit to Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who not only gave them cash, but promised to carry out many projects in Ibeku land.
The IEADA President-General used the opportunity to express his gratitude to his people for thrusting him with the leadership of IEADA, assuring that the Easter period IEADA conference will unfold a lot of packages for the good of the people.
The member representing Umuahia East State Constituency, Hon. Chukwudi Apugo, congratulated Enyiazu and his executive and pledged the support of lawmakers of Ibeku extraction to the executive, saying they were the authentic IEADA leadership and made a cash donation of N100,000 to assist the executive carry out its functions.
Other speakers including Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, his predecessor, Chief Emma Nwabuko, Abia State PDP Chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, pledged their support to the Enyiazu-led IEADA executive and urged them to strive to render selfless service to uplift Ibeku.
Chairman of Ibeku Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Henry Ibekwem, advised the IEADA leaders to work for the unity of Ibeku and advised them to rotate their meetings to give every part of Ibeku a sense of belonging.
High point of the meeting was the unanimous adoption of a motion empowering the executive to review the constitution of the IEADA and bring same to the Easter meeting for deliberation and ratification.
