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Friday, March 29, 2024

Imo: Town Unions As Link To Grassroots Development – By Chigozie Uzosike

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The Association of Imo state Indigenous Town Union under the leadership of Chief Emeka Diwe is the product of Igbo man’s genetic configuration of unrepentant republicanism. The Town Union is the only identity that has stood the test of time. It predates the colonial era; it is the most effective and efficient structure in Igbo land that brings development to the grassroots through its self help efforts. 90% of all the development in Igbo land (schools, churches, markets, roads) especially in the rural communities is done by the self help of the organized Town Unions.

 

It is the only complete structure in Igbo land that cuts across all political, religious, social and demographic cleavages. It is unbiased agent of social mobilization, political education and dissemination of information about government policies to the grassroots. Hence the structure is political, but not partisan.

 

More often than not, the Town Union acts as feedback mechanism that relays to the government, the feelings and reactions of the grassroots to the various policies, actions and inactions of the government. The homogeneity of Town Unions throughout Igbo speaking states of the country as a natural, self evolving, nongovernmental rural self development body/system is very instructive and further strengthens the unions as a proud identity of the Igbo man.

 

Having regaled you with the background and import of Town Unions, it behooves us to understand that no government can talk about developing the grassroots without first of all recognizing the position of Town Unions and working with them, otherwise the government would be flogging a dead horse.

 

Today, the rural communities are suffering from dearth of development because the government in power at every level has refused to partner with the Town Unions. Even when the government comes up with policies aimed at developing the grassroots, they have always hit the rock because the Town Unions are not carried along.

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The Community Government Council (CGC) initiated by the Gov. Rochas Okorocha is not yielding the desired result because the government has refused to work with the Town Unions. Until the Okorocha administration understands the need to work with the Town Unions, the CGC will continue to be a wasteful exercise. CGC is a good idea but its undoing is the sidelining of the Town Unions. The man at the centre of Town Unions, Chief Emeka Diwe has continued to make the stand of the union known to the government. Chief Emeka Diwe has made it clear that Town Union is not a government parastatal and is no against the government’s CGC. The Town Unions and the CGC cannot be used together as they operate under separate laws. Thanks to Chief Emeka Diwe who has not compromised the position of the Town Unions.

 

Remember that Chief Emeka Diwe has kept his integrity in all he has done. This integrity has endured and endeared him to the people of the state. This same tempo of integrity has been sustained in his leadership of Orluzurumee Cultural Union, comprising the 12 local government areas of Orlu zone. Emeka Diwe, I asked, what is the magic? Those who know him say it is a function of integrity, integrity, integrity. If integrity has done this, all should go for it because it is the best.

 

I was not surprised when about eight groups across Imo state called on him to pair with a governorship candidate from Owerri zone as deputy. Others say he should go for the Ideato North/ Ideato South federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives. All these are informed by his high level integrity sustain over time. I wonder who the lucky man from from Owerri zone will be. With Emeka Diwe, I think everybody from Orlu zone will vote for him because there is no family in Orlu zone that has no Orluzurumee faithful. All the votes from Orlu zone will be counted for Diwe because of his integrity and track record that speaks volume and has stood the test of time.

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The problem is if Chief Emeka Diwe will agree to run for any position in the 2015 general elections. If he agrees to run, I wish to inform that Chief Emeka Diwe who is in charge of Imo Town Unions will also gather most of the votes from other zones since every Igbo man have the consanguinity with Town Unionism. At least, with their man in power, Town Unionism will bounce back and take its rightful place in the land. Remember that my predictions if you are an ardent reader of my article have always come to pass.

 

It is not for nothing that the Presidency decided to work with Town Unions vis-a –vis the SURE-P to take development to the grassroots and ever since the Town Unions have been incorporated in the SURE-P, the programme has started working in the grassroots as some of the youths can attest to.

 

So, let me stop by saying that power has to get to the person with a long training of community development. People must look in this direction to enable them get good leaders. Any candidate that must win, must also work with Town Unions, otherwise we may not be sure of development to the grassroots. This is the time for people with integrity to seek electoral offices to better the lots of our people.

 

Chigozie Uzosike, a public affairs commentator, writes from Owerri, Imo State.

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