Following recent directive by the Imo State Government that every autonomous community in the state must conduct an election for their Youth President, so as to ensure peace and stability, Awa ancient kingdom in Oguta Council area of the state has appealed to the state government to conduct the election for them.
The community made this passionate appeal on Tuesday September 15, 2020, when their Traditional Ruler, HRH Eze Felix Ononuju and their President General, Hon. Victor Nwosu led over 100 Indigenes of the community including 25 Village Heads and Chairmen as well as the 25 Youth Leaders and Chairmen of the ancient autonomous community on protest to the State Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
Nwosu who read their 4 paged protest letter titled “Election of Awa Town Youth Union (ATYU)” that also contained the endorsed names of the 25 villages, the village heads and Chairmen as well as their Youth leaders and Chairmen at the State Secretariat before the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Daniel Ogu (Hamza) who was inadvertently absent and was ably represented by Mrs. Chigoziem Chioma, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary.
According to the President General, the autonomous community operates under a well constituted traditional institution with disciplined Eze-in-council, Council of Chiefs, Village Heads, Nze na Ozo, Town Union leaders with youth and women wings.
He informed that the prevailing peace in their autonomous community majorly accounts for the progress being experienced by their people pointing out that the community is equally in tone with Governor Hope Uzodimma’s Shared Prosperity and 3R administrative mantra.
Nwosu further reported that some misinformed politicians in the area are trying to create unnecessary problems with the intention of destabilizing the age-long peace and harmony existing among the people by dishing out falsehood.
He noted also that the entire autonomous community leadership structure though his tenure has expired but due to exigencies resolved that he still be retained as their President General until fresh election is conducted.
Nwosu lamented that peace and stability of the autonomous community is now on the verge of explosion because of an alleged embarrassing ranting of one, Mr. Canice Nnanna Offor who he also accused of usurping the office of the community’s President General and appealed to the Ministry to ignore any form of representation or presentation from him.
The President General passionately appealed to the Commissioner to help them conduct free and fair election for the Youth President which they proposed to hold between last Saturday of September or first Saturday in October.
Responding, Mrs. Chigoziem Chioma, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary who represented the Honourable Commissioner apologized for the absence of the Commissioner which she attributed to exigency of duty.
Chioma who appealed to them to sue for peace and tranquility assured them that their messages will be appropriately delivered to the Commissioner and the needed brief made.
Highlight of the occasion was presentation of the protest letter endorsed by Hon. Victor Nwosu, Hon. Hipolitus Nwosu, Chief Peter Atonwa , Chief Innocent Onunwa, Hon. Ifeanyi Odumodu and Hon. Poly Akunebu, out going President General, outgoing Asst. Secretary, Member Eze-in-council, Executive Secretary, Chairman Village Heads and Palace Administrative Secretary respectively by HRH Eze Felix Ihezie Ononuju to the Permanent Secretary on behalf of the Commissioner.
Hon. Victor Nwosu, the outgoing President General of Awa Ancient Kingdom reading their protest letter to Permanent Secretary and staff of Ministry of Youth and Social Development at Imo state secretariat along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri
