A call has been made to the various State Governments’ in the South East Zone of Nigeria not to allow town unions in the zone to go into extinct. The call was made by BARR. R.O. ANYANWU (JP) on the 10th day of December 2023 when he was conferred with the status of “PATRON” by his people Ngugo Obaire Town Union during their end of year get together held at the State Capital Owerri.
Barr. Anyanwu promised his people that he will not let them down used the opportunity to tell them that town unions are the oldest traditional association in Igbo land. He emphasized that town unions are not political parties and as such, should not be allowed to fully engaged in partisan politics.
Barr. Anyanwu went further to say that Government comes and goes while town unions remain. He however frowned at a situation where the President Generals of town unions are appointed directly from Local Government chairmen even where there is not crisis in the town.
This method is not only intended to destroy the town unions but also to kill the existence of our age-long traditional associations recognized by law of the land
Barr. Anyanwu re-iterated that the system of appointing president Generals by any local government in power to our various autonomous communities, causes dichotomy and bikerings between the “EZES” of the communities and the appointee President General of the Town Union including the Local Government Chairmen.
Barr. Anyanwu advised the various state governments in the zone to always monitor the activities of local government councils to ensure that state laws are strictly obeyed in their respective states.
Citing an example, there is an existing official gazetted Imo State law in respect of town unions enshrined under section 54(1) of the Imo State traditional Rules, Autonomous Communities and allied matter (Amendment) law No 10 of 2020.
The law provides that “The tenure of an elected town union executive shall be as stated and provided for in the constitution of that TOWN UNION”. The aforesaid law did not state that election of town union executives shall be in accordance with the appointment of executive by the Local Government Council Chairmen.
Adding their voices, the branch chairman of Owerri Mr. Martin Opara and a community leader Mr. Louis Ayoka on behalf of the union Jointly eulogized the personal integrity of Barr. R.O. Anyanwu and thank him for his advice generally.
Finally, Barr Anaywnu used the medium to commend the political leaders in Ngugo Obaire town union and urge them to always adhere to the legal rules of the game of politics in other to achieve over-all interest of the people and development of the community.
