EIU Branch Leaders Lament Exclusion from Stakeholders Meeting with LG Commissioner, Solicit Governor’s Intervention 

Key stakeholders of Eziowelle Improvement Union EIU have expressed dismay over the lopsided angle taken by the meeting between selected stakeholders of the union and the government of Anambra State, in view of reconciling divergent interests and discussing modalities for the conduct of the Union’s election.

In a statement released by the three branch chairmen of Onitsha, Lagos and Abuja, the key stakeholders that constitute a sizable majority of the Union’s most influential members stated;

“According to Professor Wole Soyinka, I cannot accept the definition of collective good as articulated by a privileged minority in the society, especially when that minority is in power”

“Please, recall that the chairman and secretaries of the three main founding branches of Eziowelle Improvement Union (E.I.U) of Onitsha, Lagos and Abuja had on 8th day of April, 2024 informed your office and the office of the Hon. Commissioner of the prevailing anarchical absolution being perpetuated by the unconstitutional leadership of the former President General of the union, Barr. Titus Akpudo and his cronies.

(See attached copy)

“We also raised some fundamental constitutional infractions or breaches by the past executive committee of the union led by Barr. Titus Akpudo, especially the position of the extant constitution of the union of 1992, when there is a vacuum in the leadership of the union as it is today. It is pertinent to note that the situation envisaged by the drafters of the constitution of the union several years ago has presented itself through the badleadership of Barr Titus Akpudo.

“It is also important to categorically state that the intervention of the leadership of the three founding branches of the union was in line with the intendment of Article XVI (c) and (d) of Eziowelle Improvement Union Constitution (1992) and not in anyway for self-aggrandizement, but for altruistic reason and rule of law.

However, to our greatest surprise, we were reliably informed that Mr. Commissioner invited Eziowelle Community Stakeholders to to a meeting in his office yesterday (14/5/024) to discuss the modalities for the conduct of the union’s elections without extending such invite to any of the branch leaders. This is frankly not the best way to resolve issues and Mr. Commissioner seems to have been falsely briefed by his friend and former PG of the union, Barr. Titus Akpudo and his cronies.

Mr Governor, our patience have been tasted for so long and we have been pushed to the wall for too long too. We have also endured for so long because we are law abiding.

Barr. Titus Akpudo is half-smart by dragging the traditional ruler of our community into the union’s affairs. He stealthly confused the Igwe into using the palace letter-headed paper to schedule the union’s election on 29/5/2024 without informing the leadership of the founding branches.

The letter by Igwe also appointed his palace secretary as the chairman of the Electoral Committee and served as an invitation to the State Government for supervision. This is complete absurdity and should not be condoned under the able leadership of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo our dear working Governor of Anambra State.

PRAYERS:

(1) We appeal to His Excellency to direct Mr. Commissioner to expand the invitation to include the leadership of the three founding branches, the immediate past executive committee of the union led by Barr. Akpudo, as well as selected stakeholders from the community.

(2) In the alternative, Mr Governor should direct the Commissioner to recuse himself and hand-over Eziowelle Community file to the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Anambra State, since Mr. Commissioner has shown ineptitude in handling the matter.

(3) Mr. Governor can also set up a panel of enquiry to thoroughly investigate this Barr. Akpudo self-inflicted problem on Eziowelle Community.

“Mr Governor, we want you to come to our aid to save our dear community, Eziowelle from the lawless grip of a lawyer, Barr. Titus Akpudo and his cohorts.

“A stitch in time saves nine”

Signed:

Mr Ezenwa Azie and Barr Ekene Arubulueze for Abuja Branch.

Mr Anthony Oragui and Comrade Chukwubuike Okafor for Lagos Branch.

Mr Chimezie Chukwuka and Mr Chukwudi Okeke for Onitsha Branch.