PEACEFUL UNIFICATION OF IHO-DIMEZE TOWN UNION (IDTU) FACTIONS PAVES WAY FOR IHO-DIMEZE YOUTH LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS

By Doris Igwe

All is set for Iho-Dimeze Youth Association’s elections to chose suitable executives that will lead the organization for the next tenure of four years.

The current and outgoing President of  the organization Mr. Chibuzo Iwuala communicated the news electronically to the General Assembly of Iho-Youths following due consultations with stake holders of the Association.

The out-going Executives of the Association have scheduled Iho- Dimeze Women’s Hall and Teusday the 23rd of April 2024 as venue and date of its general meeting respectively, where the election date proper and other modalities would be communicated to all members of the Youth Association.

It will be recalled that on the 5th of March 2024, following the indefinite postponement of the earlier 13th April 2024 slated date for the Youth Elections, a peaceful meeting was organized by eminent sons of Iho-Dimeze led by Hon. Chinasa Anthony with the aim of reconciling all the warring factions of the IDTU and bringing lasting peace to Iho-Dimeze.

The meeting was well attended by key stakeholders in the community like the Clan Chiefs and Traditional Heads of all the villages in the community, the leaders (‘Presidents’) of the rival factions of the existing IDTU groups  Chiefs Uzoma Osuji and Bethel Iwuajoku, Leaderships of the Women and Youth organizations of the community and numerous distinguished Iho-Dimeze sons like Prof. Anderson Amadioha, Dr. Emeka Onyekwere, Barr John Unachukwu, Barr Uche Osuji, Capt. Mbamara, Apostle Sam Udeh, Mr Olunna Unachukwu, Mr Henshaw Uchegbu, Chief Shedrack Arihalam, Chief Charles Eberechi and many others.

The meeting miraculously yielded a successful outcome as the pleas to the both contending factional leaders to sacrifice their egos and unite under the community appointed and Imo State Government ratified community leader Mr Sabinus Mgbemena was accepted by both rival ‘Presidents’ to the joy and happiness of the whole congregation of Iho-Dimeze indigenes.

Both of the leaders of the two groups who have feuded for over eight years refusing to accept the legitimacy of their rivals, accepted to work together with the people selected and Imo State authenticated and recognized President General of the community until a general election is held to elect a new leader of the community.

The contingents of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) , Nigerian Civil Defense corps,  Ikeduru Local Government and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) expressed happiness afterwards that the community was able to attain peaceful resolution of the thorny issues and warned against trouble makers who will in one way or the other try to disturb the unity and peace achieved at the meeting.

It was based on these monumental peaceful achievements that the Youth of Iho-Dimeze decided to hold their elections quickly on the date to be announced at their upcoming Emergency General meeting .

The wisdom of the youths in temporarily shelving their scheduled elections to help plead for cessation of hostilities and reunification of Iho-Dimeze is being lauded by most members of the community who are tired of all the bickerings in the community which has lasted well over 15 years following the demise of the Late Eze of the Community HRH Eze Ernest Onwuegbu.

To one of the elders present at the peace meeting, the youth’s selfless step is viewed as a huge sacrifice in pursuit of a bigger goal of returning peace to Iho-Dimeze.

The outgoing President of Iho-Dimeze Youth Association  in issuing the elections notice, sounded a word of advice to all youth in the community to strengthen Imo State Government’s quest to have a peaceful and secure Imo State by conducting themselves peacefully within the elections period and warned persons poised to ferment trouble to be mindful that the government via their agencies in our community who are involved in the peaceful quest may be called in to deal with persons wanting to cause problems and confusion that can disrupt the community’s hard earned and fragile peace.

He encouraged all qualified youth members of the Associations who are interested in leading the community to approach the organization and promptly purchase their forms as the announced elections will be the only means to legitimately elect any executive member of the organisation.

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