It was excitement galore and joyful cheers last Saturday, January 19, 2019 at Orlu Hotels during the National Summit of Orluzurumee cultural group as the arrival of the vivacious, vibrant UPP senatorial candidate, Comrade Precious Nwadike who was the erstwhile President of Orluzurumee Youth Assembly, was announced.
The National Summit was rather more of a home coming of the critical stakeholders of Orlu zone, as all members of Orluzurumee including the past and present apex leaders of the socio cultural group and traditional rulers were in attendance to witness the various events lined up for the day.
However the arrival of Comrade Precious Nwadike at the venue, elicited a volcanic excitement amongst members of the union who commend the zeal, courage and patriotic quest of the young man who was president of the youth wing of the union and whose antecedents are well known, now contesting for the coveted seat of Orlu senate.
In his address at the summit, the President General of the union, Chief Emeka Diwe traced back the genesis and history of the union which began in 1982 with Chief John Obidiegwu as pioneer President General and subsequently followed by the likes of Dr. Chukwuma Obioha, Professor Festus Obioha and Chief Barr Reuben Okoro.
He revealed that membership of the union, is of a high pedigree as well as a call to service and dwelt on the state of the association, which he observed to be redundant and must wake up to involve women, youths and people in the rural areas of the all nooks and crannies of Orlu, for the zone to move forward socially, politically educationally and economically and in tandem with their slogan of “Igwe bu Ike”.
Commenting on the proposed Orluzurumee subsidized transport scheme, Diwe disclosed that it was meant to cushion the adverse effects of economic realities facing the people. “It is intended to make inter local government and inter city movement easier and more affordable for teeming people of Orlu”, he stated.
He disclosed that the organization though socio-cultural in nature was also political, though non-partisan but rather addresses the collective interests of Orlu people and not the exclusive interest of some persons or groups. He urged members of the union to continue to do those things that tend to unite rather than divide them, and called on all Orlu sons and daughters to ensure they obtain their PVCs, to help them elect credible leaders in the fast approaching 2019 elections.
In his own speech at the occasion, Professor Francis Dike (SAN), Chairman of the Orlu Elders’ Council, advised the electorate to shun money politics by voting out bad leaders. He said that, Orlu Elders’ Council encourages viable, veritable young politicians to take over the mantle of leadership from the older ones.
Similarly, the Deputy National Chairman of UPP, who is also a member of the Elders Council, Chief Ejike Uche (Dimkpasaa) commended the leadership of Orluzurumee, and advised it to remain a political as they have been, adding that but for 2019, our choice of governor, we have to consider the credibility of those who are contesting the election and consideration must be given to the other two zones that have not held the position in the past years. He warned against those who may insist that Imo governorship is an exclusive right of Orlu people.
Others who spoke at the summit apart from the guest lecturers included Professor Protus Uzorma, Secretary of the Orlu Elders’ Council, and the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Frank Jacobs (M/D Ray Jacobs Ltd).
It was gathered that, apart from Comrade Nwadike, the three other major contenders for Orlu senate seat namely; Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, of APC, Hon. Jones Onyeriri of PDP and Senator Osita Izunaso were conspicuously absent at the occasion.
The highlights of the summit include the installation of the union’s patrons, the Board of Trustees and unveiling of the “OZM mass transit scheme”.
Prominent among the guests were Royal Fathers of the day, HRH Eze C.J. Okwara IV (Eshi of Nkweme), His Royal Majesty Eze (Dr) C.I. Ilomunanya (Obi of Obinugwu) and a host of other dignitaries.
