11^th May 2010

 PART 1

1.         The Executive- the current executive of the Umunnachi Improvement Union was elected on the 27^th day of December 2007 following the expiration of the second term of the Dr Bonnie Awachie’s led executive. Accordingly, the following persons were elected to hold office for the first term of 3 years from 27^th December to December 2010, that is to say;

            1.         Chief (Barr) Anthony Ofili Egbusi     - President-General 

            2.         Chief Christopher Amucheazi           - Vice President-General 

            3.         Barr Ike Odionu                              - Secretary-General  

            4.         Mr. Joseph Okoye                           - Secretary-General 2 

            5.         Mr. Ossy Udemezue                        - Secretary-General 3 

            6.         Chief John Nwakibie Eziamaka         - Treasurer  

            7.         Mr. Joseph Nwafor                          - Financial Secretary 

            8.         Mr. Frank Okonkwo                        - P.R.O 

            9.         Mr. Christopher Udokwu                 - Provost 1 

            10.       Mr. Godwin Egwim                         - Provost 2 

            11.       Barr Okey Udegbunam                    - Legal Adviser 

            12.       Dr J.C. Azodo                                 - Auditor

 The afore-listed persons constitute the current executive of the Umunnachi Improvement Union whose first term shall expired in December 2010 subject however to their eligibility to contest for second term. 

This current executive replaced the old executive of Dr Bonnie Awachie (former President-General), Dr Steven Ikwumelu (former Vice President-General and Dr Oliver Onwughalu (former Secretary-General) 

2.         ACHIEVEMENTS – The current executive has achieved quite a lot in its 2 years plus in office so far. We shall discuss this under the following sub-headings.  

i.          The Resolution of the Jos Crisis – The Jos crisis had tormented our town for over a decade now like a gadfly. It was a crisis that pitched our brothers in Jos against one another and at a time appeared insoluble. It defied the best and well-intended efforts of the mother union aimed at resolving the crisis. The crisis resulted in a labyrinth of court cases involving our brothers in Jos which at a time extended to the mother union. As the crisis raged on, the hard-earned resources of our brothers which would have been better utilized for the development of our town were being wasted on needless seemingly endless litigations. Hatred, bitterness, rancour and acrimony persisted while the crisis lasted. 

            When the knights of St John International Commandery 452 Jos went into the matter, we welcomed the development with both hands. With our cooperation and input the terms of settlement was drawn up and in encouraging our brothers to sign the terms of settlement, we stated as follows:- (vide our letter of 23/10/2009) 

            “We believe that no amount of compensation or reparation can assuage those who have been made to go through some terrible moments because of this crisis like, trial by ordeal/ juju, imprisonment and loss of revenue and property. We earnestly implore our brothers in Jos and our representatives to accept, sign and implement without hesitation the term of peace as proposed…”           

            As at now, the terms of peace has been signed by the parties and the process of implementation has also commenced. For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Joe Agbalugo has handed over the title documents of the Umunnachi Hall in Jos.  Secondly, Chief Joe Agbalugo has written the apology letter demanded of him. All the court cases are now being withdrawn. These are the terms of peace and it is definitely not an over-statement to say that the seemingly intractable Jos crisis has been settled. 

ii.         Siting of the National Open University At Umunnachi (NOUN) 

            Through our tireless efforts, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has accepted to site its Anambra State Study Center at Umunnachi! Following our invitation, the 3-man team from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) led by Professor Mba Okoronkwo, OON (Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic) visited the site which we carved out at Nagbana Village comprising an area of 14,463.939 square meters. A survey plan of the land was made and sent to them and by their letter of 1^st March 2010, they stated as follows:- “since the proposed study center has been severed from the existing secondary school, the approved survey plan has clearly shown the areas dedicated for NOUN use. NOUN has accepted the piece of land as shown…” However, they demanded for the renovation of the facilities on the ground which should house the auditorium, administrative block, laboratory and other appurtenances. 

            While we await the full take-off of the university, we hereby appeal to well-meaning citizens of the town to join hands with us in ensuring that this golden opportunity does not elude us. We need people that can donate or renovate buildings on the ground which can be named after them. All hands must be on deck. National Open University of Nigerians is a Federal University set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria for distant learning programme. 

iii.        Developmental project - We have been severely hampered by funds in this regard. However, we are immensely grateful to the Anambra State Government in its effort to take development to the grassroots. Consequently, the Umunnachi Community has greatly benefited from the periodic largesse of the State Government. Through such funds, we have done an appreciable palliative work on our roads. We have succeeded in opening up the hitherto impassable road from Eke Ofu up to the site for the National Open University of Nigeria by the Community Secondary School Umunnachi. This we did with the money released to the Umunnachi Improvement Union. Some other roads, like the Igwe Nnachi Avenue and Umueze Road, have also benefited from the project only to the limit of the funds. 

            More funds are definitely needed for the provisions of gutters, etc so as to make the road palliative measures more meaningful in order to be able to withstand the pressure of the floods. 

            The Umunnachi Improvement Union has also taken up some aspects of renovation work at the Community Secondary Umunnachi which regrettable is fast dilapidating. 

            We have also made a documentary of the erosion site at Nkwelle Village and have sent same to the Anambra State Government. Incidentally, this site was relayed on the big screen at the Women Development Center Awka during the launching of the policy document on erosion control in Anambra State by the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi. We are making strenuous efforts to ensure that the erosion site at Nkwelle Village forms an integral part of the erosion control programmes of the Anambra State Government. 

3.         CHALLENGES- we shall discuss this heading under the two sub-headings of funds and civic center project. 

i.          Funds- We have been largely constrained by funds. The union has virtually no means of revenue. The flags fees collected during funeral and other social functions are grossly insufficient. The sum total each year hardly surpasses N20,000 from which some percentage are given to the town security outfit. Ages grades no longer make contributions to the union as they are constitutionally bound to do. Most wealthy indigenes (apart from very notable few) seldom donate anything to the union much less taking up a developmental project. 

ii.         Civic Center – This is a project that has been incubation for over two decades. The best efforts of our predecessors in office towards jump-starting the project were greatly hindered by the Jos crisis which took a great part of the money dedicated for the civic center project when the mother union got engulfed in the grueling litigations at Jos. Many donors refused to redeem their pledges fearing that the money would be used to finance or fuel the Jos crises. 

Now that the crisis is behind us, we call on all the well-meaning people of Umunnachi to join hands with us in building the civic center. Those that made pledges should redeem same. Those that have not must do something now. If this project is a jinx for us, now is the time to break it. 

Conclusion- There is no crisis in the town. The current executive is not in crisis. The Jos crisis has been resolved. Disputes involving groups and individuals are being resolved by the arbitration panel of the U.I.U. The relationship between the U.I.U and the Igwe-in-Council so far has been very cordial. 

Once more, we appeal to the well-meaning people of the town to join hands with us in moving the town forward. We have listed some of our challenges. We are all stakeholders and can never let our common inheritance to fall into doldrums. We call on our people to imbibe the Akunwata (Chief Vincent Okoye) philosophy in them. We call on our people to immortalize Late Chief Eddy Obi Okoye by replicating his philanthropy.

Signed

________________________                                    _____________________

CHIEF (BARR.) ANTHONY EGBUSI                 BARR. IKE ODIONU

 (President – General, Umunnachi                               (Secretary – General,

Improvement Union)                                                   Umunnachi Improvement Union)

08033191034                                                             08037064597