Town Union And Administration

TOWN UNIONS AND ADMINISTRATIONS

 IGBO-UKWU TOWN UNION

Prior to the existence of Unions in Igbo-Ukwu, the town had been administered under various forms of terminologies constituted by the colonial regimes. These constitutions in any case had the effectof destroying the traditional mechanisms which was absolute in Igbo-Ukwu before the coming of the colonialists. Although the traditional mechanism was in shambols, Igbo-Ukwu people were still able to hold together and forged ahead, the results of which included the collective resistence of the whiteman and his warrant chiefs.

The Unions in Igbo-Ukwu metamorphosed into Political Structures which became responsible for the physical development of the town. The metamorphosis snowballed to Igbo-Ukwu Development Union today which is headed by the President-General of the Union who is vested with executive power by a well articulated constitution.

IGBO-UKWU IMPROVEMENT UNION (IIU)

According to Emeka Igwilo, in his work of 2003, he was able to collate the fact that the dream for the formation of a modern forum for the entire citizens of Igbo-Ukwu dated as early as 1032 when the town formed what was known then as the Igbo-Ukwu General Meeting. This forum was inititiated by the indigenes that were based in Port Harcourt. They had often assembled to deliberate and take decisions on issues that affected the town. Having mapped out developmental progresses as their objectives, the members of the body on the 12^th of December 1936 changed the name of the forum from the Igbo-Ukwu General meeting to Igbo-Ukwu Improvement Union (IIU). With this development, the union enlarged its objectives to embrace the promotion of the social, cultural and economic benefits of the town[1].

Igwilo continued to observe that few months after the establishment of the union, a lot of people rushed to be registered as members of the body and this helped to increase its nominal role. At about 1939, a big misunderstanding erupted, this was as a result of religious sentiments which was deep-seated among the Catholics and Anglicans. This ensuring bigotry nearly marred the existence of the body. As fate may have it, the two parties later agreed to settle their differences.

With peace restored between the two denominations, the Igbo-Ukwu Improvement Union advance some steps further with the drafting of a constitution in 1942. The constitution was later misinterpreted by some members who were driven by political motives. This snowballed into the abandonment of the constitution.

successive administrations of the igbo-ukwu IMPROVEMENT union (iIu)

1. Isaiah Okeke 1936-1945

Marcel Akogu                 Secretary

2. Unknown 1945-1955

Michael Osunkwo           Secretary

IGBO-UKWU PROGRESSIVE UNION (IPU)

Under this confusion, the members of the IIU in 1946 decided to change the name from Igbo-Ukwu Improvement Union (IIU) to Igbo-Ukwu Progressive Union (IPU) in order to redeifine the goals of the body and take more progressive oriented actions. But the problem was not a matter of changing of nomenclature and goals[2].

However, having successfully restructured their programmes, the IPU focused attention on education as the gretes priority in their scheme of projects. They introduced scholarship scheme so as to sponsor the indigenous students who had admissions into Higher Cambridge Studies, Teachers Training Colleges and Universities. The scholarship scheme which helped to boast the academic level of the town, was awarded to qualified candidates without paying attention to religious inclinations, sex or section of origin.

Other achievement of the Union was the establismnet of a Preliminary Training College (P.T.C.) in Igbo-Ukwu in 1956, which was cited at the present-day Igbo-Ukwu Girls’ secondary School. That sounded the beginning of post-primary institution in Igbo-Ukwu. However, a few years of carrying out the scholarship responsibility, the body was further threatened by the religious sectionalism. This misunderstanding let to the total collapse of the body in the late sixties.

 successive administrations of the igbo-ukwu PROGRESSIVE union (iPu)

1. L. U. Umeokafor 1955-1958

Beniah Okoye                           Secretary

2. Chief Martin Nwosu 1958-1962

Beniah Okoye                           Secretary

3. Mazi Rufus Muonanu 1962-1965

Beniah Okoye                           Secretary

4. Chief J.C. Major Azike 1966-1974
5. O. ezenibe Secretary

IGBO-UKWU DEVELOPMENT UNION

In 1974, through the help of Chief F.O. Onyekwelu and Chief I.P.O. Nwosu, and many other, the Igbo-Ukwu Progressive Union was Ofiicially dissolved and a new body known as the Igbo-Ukwu Development Union was born

The Igbo-Ukwu Development Union (I.D.U) came into existence on the 15^th March. 1975 after the dissolution of then Igbo-Ukwu Progressive Union (IPU). This was formed to improve the development and the administration of the town. The Igbo-Ukwu Development Union is a formal social organization with proper documented constitution and rules under which it operates. It is made up of representatives of the quarters. Wards, the Cabinet Chiefs, 36 Ichies and Ides, Merit Chiefs and the Igbo-Ukwu indigenes in Diaspora.

According to records, the I.D.U has witnessed nine administrative regimes and is currently on her tenth regime. I.D.U has also witnessed four intervention regimes. The IDU has her town union scattered all over the major towns in the country and in Diaspora with Igbo-Ukwu Women as their women wing.

The IDU assembly meets bimonthly at the town hall, Amaehulu. the executive under the President-General formulates policies, plans and programmes aimed at promoting peace, unity and socio-economic and political development of the town. the supervision of the town’s projects is done by functional committees headed by experienced chiefs and professional technocrats. the idu have executed many projects which are too numerous to mention.

 successive administrations of the igbo-ukwu development union (idu)

1. Late Chief F.O Onyekwelu (Ogbuefi) 15^th Mar, 1975-1984

Chief I.P.O Nwosu                                        Secretary

2. Late Chief Hon. Vincent Agwuncha (Ochiagha I) 2^nd June, 1984-1988

Sir Raphael Ezenibe                                       Secretary

3. Chief Dr. Chukwuemeka Pius Ezeife (Okwadike) 19^th Mar, 1988-1991

Ichie C.S Umeafonta                                     Secretary

4. Late Chief J.N.P Okonkwo (Ojenanwayoo) 1991-1994

Mr. R.O. Umennajiuba                                  Secretary

5. Late Chief Barr. M.A.C Okekeizuagwu (Okwuluora) 1994-1997

Hon G.C. Umeanuka                                     Secretary

6. Chief Sir. B.C Ezenwoye (Ochoudo) 29^th Dec, 1997-1999

Mr. Edward Okeke                                        Secretary

7. Chief Arc. J.N.O Umeokafor (Ezeodumegwu) 29^th Dec, 1999-2003

Engr Barnabas Udoye                                   Secretary

8. Chief Eric Nwobi (Okide) 29^th Dec, 2003-2007

Secretary

9. Chief Rob E. Ezeife (Ahaejiejemba) 29^th Dec 2007 – 2011

Secretary

10. Arc. Christian Ike 2021- to date

Secretary

INTERVENTION ADMINISTRATORS.

1. Barr. M.C.K Ubah (2^nd Vice President General, Acting PG) 29^th December, 2011 – 2012.
2. Nze Christian Okoli Udeafo (Chairman Caretaker Comm by Govt) 7^th April, 2012 – 2014.
3. Mr. Pius Adimuo (Chairman Caretaker Comm by Govt) 2014 – 2017.
4. Nze Basil Osuokwu (1^st Vice President General, Acting PG) 25^th February, 2017 – 2021.

Mr Okechukwu Okoye                      Secretary

[1] Igwilo pg 68

[2] Op. Cit