President General of Association of Imo State Indigenous Town Unions; Chief Emeka Diwe has called for a check on the background of persons seeking political offices in the 2015 general elections.
Speaking during the inauguration of the newly elected members of the Owerri zone chapter of the Association of Indigenous Town Unions, Aba, Abia State, the President General opined that such checks would reveal the personality of the candidates seeking to represent the people.
He warned against electing candidates who will later abandon the people to represent their family and friends, stressing that it is high time the electorate shun politicians who would want to use money to influence them to support bad candidates during the 2015 general elections.
“Preparation for the 2015 general elections has started. Be cautious of those who would come to you with money to make you vote for them. I urge you to check the background of such candidates because they may not mean well for the people. You must be careful so that you won’t make the mistake of electing candidates who will run to Abuja or Owerri when elected only to return when it is time for the next elections. Such person is not fit to be called a representative. So, we must work with people who are conscious of development because the cardinal objective of town unionism is grassroot development.
“So, we have a duty to enlighten our people to support people who are conscious of development. Town Unions are only for development. This is why we say; Town Union, Development to the Grassroots,” he said.
The multiple award winning President General whose alias ‘Gburugburu’ rent the air throughout his speech, refuted reports that town unions are political structures which are set up for the purposes of election.
“Town Union is political, but not partisan. Town union members can belong to any political party of their choice but we don’t support any political party. Town Union is the only identity of the Igbo man that has stood the test of time. I assure you that it is the most democratic structure found in Igbo land. Town Unions can guide members on political decisions, particularly the election of quality people in leadership positions in the society.”
