KWALE/Nigeria: The 2020 General Assembly of Ndokwa Neku Union, NNU, chaired by Hon. Dr. Ogaranya Tabs Tabowei, Chairman, NNU Caretaker Committee, has appointed another electoral committee to organise the election of a new executive after the expiring of the Johson Opone led executive, which expired last June.
The announcement was made in an Assembly of the Ndokwa people which was well attended and can be termed successful in terms of attendance, issues raised and harmoniously addressed, and quality representations by clans, associations and individuals. That was before the eventual inauguration of the 5-man Electoral Committee members.
It could be recalled that prior to the expiration of the last executive, an electoral committee headed by Sir Ken Okolugbo was setup, but the members later tendered their resignation.
Those saddled with the election of a new Exco in January 2021, coinciding with NNU’s 20 anniversary (NNU was born and inaugurated on January 27 2001), were Chief Nze Ananyi, Chrisopher Uzoalu, Rear Admiral Dickson Olisemenogo, Dr. Mrs. Ada Ugbomeh and Mrs. Beatrice Otono.
It is interesting to note that the event secretariat, ably manned by Sir CY Eboagu, was up, early enough even before the 10am allotted time and diligently ensured that all delegates were credited accordingly.
Then moved on to part two at about 11am, when the meeting began in earnest with the constitution of the high table with Rear Admiral Onah (Rtd), and His Royal Majesty, Frank O.O. Akpati II, the Inawai of Onya Kingdom and all the Caretaker Committee members present.
Earlier in her keynote address, Prof. Mrs. Mabel Ejime Osakwe, a pioneer member of the Sir, Justice James Obi (Rtd.) led NNU Exco, charged the atmosphere with a perfect delivery of her paper titled ‘NNU Scripts and Matters Arising Towards Revitalization of the Apex Union’.
She minced no words, as she pointedly scored the four successive NNU administrations low in her paper that was broken into Preamble, Introduction, NNU Scripts, Script Summary, Matter Arising and Suggestions Towards Revitalization, Looking Forward and Recent Development.
The piece by Prof. Mrs. Osakwe also came with strict words for the apex body to wake up from its slumber and take its rightful place like their counterparts in the Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU and Isoko Development Union, IDU, in the renaissance of our dear Ndokwa Nation or face the dire consequences that their continued inaction portends.
She did not spare the political class and youths either, as she warned against working against the interest of Ndokwa, while lamenting the lack of cohesion among the political class, just as everyone was admonished to work for Ndokwa’s renaissance wherever they are.
Those present were reminded of the importance of the General Assembly, whose resolutions remain lawful.
Expectedly, there were dissenting views, especially during the presentation of motions on proposals for the amendment of some aspects of the 2013 constitution.
The main motions for the constitutional amendment proposal were that: 1. Eligibility for NNU offices: ‘Section 6.3 stipulates the qualifications for membership of NNU Executive Council as follows: ‘Only registered and financial members of the UNION are eligible to vote and be voted for into any of the executive offices of the Ndokwa Neku Union. Any member indebted to the union shall be deemed to have lost his or her voting rights. He or she cannot be voted for.”
It was amended to read that, ‘The General Assembly is hereby prayed to consider and approve the following addendum to the provision quoted above. No person shall be qualified for election into any of the NNU Executive Council offices, if he/she is a holder of any political offices in government or political party. In the event of appointment into any political position while in NNU Executive Council, the person shall resign immediately.
Motion two was about the ‘Officers of NNU’, as enshrined by Section 6.1, and it provides for the following offices in NNU was amended to read that; ‘General Assembly is requested to approve the creation of the position of (a) National Woman Leader, and (b) National Youth Leader as part of the NNU executive committee’. It was so approved.
The absence of an auditor, which was observed by NRN interim Publicity Secretary, Sony Neme, was further encouraged by Chief Dele Omenogor?, (title) who added that it should read internal auditor. It was approved. Also the absence of an organizing secretary was raised by Dr. Ossai Ananthra and also approved by the Assembly.
The third motion was on Section 6.4.2 on the composition of Electoral College. What was finally approved was that the Electoral College shall consist of (a) 44 delegates per LGA and they would be drawn from the clans that make up each LGA; (b) All past Presidents and Secretaries, including chairman and secretary of Caretaker Committee, of NNU; and (c) 30 Leaders of thought at 10 persons per LGA, which makes it one per INEC designated ward.
This motion was moved by NRN President, Mr. Mike Akpati, while Mr. Aswai Donatus opposition of the constitution without considering association was overwhelmingly turned down, as Associations’ position has already been taken care of with their membership of the General Assembly, which is a higher body than the Electoral College.
It was also resolved that associations were not included to forestall a situation where money bags will register associations just for the sake of skewing victory at elections.
Dignitaries in attendance includes Rt. Hon. Olise Imegwu, Sir Fidelis Tilije, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, Joe Animati (MC of the occasion), the two top contenders for the NNU PG, Gen Mike Ndubisi (Rtd) and the immediate past boss of Ukwuani Foundation Union, UFU, Chief Olise (Jacko) among others. I will send details of attendance later.
