By Chuks Eke
Six aggrerian local government areas in Anambra state, under the umbrella of Omabala Union have set machineries in motion to prioritize security of lives and property, peace and conflict resolution, youth empowerment and massive food production.
In a seven-point development agenda reeled out at the inaugural ceremony of its newly appointed members of Board of Trustees, BoT and 30-member caretaker committee held at Umueri Recreation Club, Otuocha in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state, the union said it would equally prioritize celebration of Omabala Day as part of it’s identity.
In the seven-point agenda read out by Chairman of the newly inaugurated Caretaker Committee, Chief Chike Obidigbo (Osisi Oma), the union which drew it’s membership from six local government areas of the state, comprising Anambra East, Anambra West, Awka North, Oyi, Ayamelum and Dunukofia Local Government Areas of the state, said they would also bring government closer to Omabala area to foster unity and rapid developments.
According to Chief Obidigbo who is prominent industrialist cum philanthropist, Cm “We are not a political party but we will have a share and stake in all the political parties. We will improve our economy through revenue generation from our oil fields and other God-given mineral deposits in our lands such as Ulo, Nzu and Kaolin”.
“As for security of lives and property, he continued, we are going to join hand with the government. We are going to recognize and empower our youths. Omabala is a food basket of Nigeria and we are going to embark on massive food production, storage, processing and marketing to increase our revenue base”.
“We should be conscious of the existing governorship zoning and rotation formula. We will participate actively in electoral processes in order to produce good leadership at all times, irrespective of the particular zone whose turn it is to produce the governor at any point in time and in any democratic dispensation”, said Obidigbo.
He therefore urged members to be conscious of time and actively involved in carrying out all these agendas to a logical conclusion for the greatdr interest and benefit of Omabala Union, adding that he would like to pilot the affairs of the union for a little while and then hand over to a younger generation.
Chairman of BoT, Retired Justice Obidigwe while inaugurating the new caretaker committee, comnended the Obidigbo-led committee for the implicit confidence reposed on them by the entire union members and charged them to redouble their efforts towards achieving the goals for which the union was established in the first place.
The host taditional ruler of Umueri, Igwe Bennet Emeka while performing the traditional kolanut breaking ceremony, described Omabala Union as the most important one in Anambra state considering it’s strategic location in the river rine areas of the state and urged members to organize themselves property in order to harness it’s potentialities.
Highlight of the event included an audience given to each of their visiting guests and Governorship candidates of African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Nwosu and his Accord Party counterpart, Sir C. C. Onyeze.
Nwosu stormed the inaugural venue with his campaign train, while Onyeze was represented by the Director-General of his Campaign Organization, Chief Uchenna Ndumuanya and his numerous supporters.
Addressing the union members, both Nwosu and Onyeze said they came to solicit for their votes and support in their journey to become the next governor of Anambra state, after the November 8 governorship election in the state.
Responding on behalf of the union, the traditional ruler of Ifitedunu community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state, Igwe Dr. Emeka Ilouno commended them for their wise decision to come and seek their support as a union and recommended fervent prayers as a solution to their plight.
