Commentary
on AWEC
Date 2011/6/24 16:45:56 | Topic: Anioma
News
Commentary on AWEC
The Anioma World Economic Congress (AWEC) has now come and gone. There were several challenges along the way but with all your help we finally fulfilled our constitutional requirement to hold a convention every two years (even) on the first weekend of July.
There was a lot of time and planning that went into the organization of the convention. I traveled to Nigeria with Mr. Joseph Onyejose, the chairman of the planning committee at our own expense to meet with and invite several of the stakeholders in the body politic of Anioma as well as notable business personalities. It was not possible to meet with all the personalities due to the time constraint on us and the usual difficulty normally encountered trying to track people down in Nigeria.
We did our best and distributed well over one hundred invitation cards and almost all of the recipients, including some royal fathers, promised to attend the convention. We then got back to the United States and planned accordingly for the occasion with the expectation that most of these honored invitees will show up. To our greatest disappointment, most of them did not attend the AWEC.
If you have ever attended an event here in the USA held by our neighbors to the east of the Niger, or even those organized by other ethnic groups within our Delta State, you will be amazed at the noticeable difference in the number of their leaders and captains of industry from Nigeria that attend these events, no matter where it is held and no matter what the entrance fee is. These leaders understand the need to connect with those in diaspora and use these occasions to give themselves and their agenda greater exposure.
We thank our Distinguished Senator Osakwe, Hon. Chinedu Mekoma (Aniocha South), Councilman William Okwudishu of Okpanam, Chief Andrew Ogoh, Isagba of Ezi, and Osi Okocha a candidate for the state house of Representatives from Aniocha North for journeying all the way from Nigeria to support, honor and grace AWEC.
We also thank the Chairman Izuka Okolo (Oshimili South LGA), Hon. Victor Ochei and Chief Emmanuel Mbulu (Canada) could not be with us at AWEC but expressed their well wishes and supported us financially. Locally, Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Ogbechie (California), Chief Ken Iwelumo, and a host of others, were in attendance and supported us with their presence and donated handsomely.
Senator Patrick Osakwe obviously turned out to be the surprise of the event. He was charming and willing to present alternative ideas to popular views held by most Anioma people. For the record, the senator clearly stated that he is not opposed to and has never been opposed to the creation of an Anioma state. He challenged Aniomas to broaden our horizon and tackle the endemic problem of lack of a strong Anioma identity. According to him, we clamor for a state because we have always felt marginalized in whatever entity we find ourselves in. The reason we feel this way is because we do not feel strong enough or united enough to demand and take what we want including our own state. It is therefore very important that we are seen to be strong and united so that others will begin to take notice, listen and accede to our demands including the demand for our own state.
Politics is a game of numbers and perceptions. If you are perceived to be weak, you will only get lip service, but if you are seen to be strong, you can demand for and get what you want. He pointed to the perceived unity of other ethnic groups in Delta State as well as the strong support their organizations in Diaspora receive from their leaders in Nigeria. It is because of this unity that enables them stand up to the state government and claim what they ask for including the position of executive governor. Apart from Senator Patrick Osakwe, which of our top leaders can we rely on to show up when called on to visit us in diaspora?
The senator urged his Ndokwa people in diaspora to be more active in the politics of Anioma and lamented the fact that only a few of them were present at AWEC. He stressed that if we were united with every Aniocha, Ndokwa, Oshimili and Ika person strongly identifying as Aniomas, it will be an unstoppable combination. The capital is already in Anioma land and the end result is that we will someday get our state and anyone who feels aggrieved can pull away to form their own state. The bottom line is that we should also channel strong efforts towards unity and generating a strong Anioma identity. With a strong identity, state creation will be more coordinated and strongly tackled which will prevent the perpetual run around we have been experiencing from the Federal Government as far back as the 1950s. He also pointed out that in Nigeria, all things are possible with executive power and that is why another focus of Anioma people should be coming together to secure the position of governor.
The election of the national executive officers was conducted during the morning session of the convention on Saturday, July 3, 2010 and all the officers were returned unopposed as follows: Mr. Uche Honnah (National President), Mrs. Greg Odiaka (National Vice President), Ms. Chichi Daniel (Executive Secretary), Mr. Victor Kwentua (Financial Secretary), Mr. Andrew Mordi (Treasurer) and Mr. John Chuka (Social Secretary).
The next Anioma National Convention will be held during the first week of July of 2012 in a yet to be determined location. We will do the selection as stipulated in our constitution by bid and we hope to continuously improve on each convention.
The participants during the day session of the convention came up with the items listed below and urged the national executives to work towards those goals:
• Work with Anioma politicians at home to secure the governorship position for Anioma because that is the surest way of bringing economic development to our area.
• Hold our Anioma politicians accountable by constantly reminding them that they represent the people and not themselves.
• Form a committee to establish stronger links with our leaders at home with the ultimate objective of coordinating and establishing a strong Anioma identity.
• Agitate and work with leaders at home to lobby for basic infrastructure such as roads, light and water.
• Works towards improved education for our youth
The convention came to an end with the gala night dinner and fundraiser.
By Uche Honnah
National President-Anioma Association USA, Inc.
The Anioma World Economic Congress (AWEC) has now come and gone. There were several challenges along the way but with all your help we finally fulfilled our constitutional requirement to hold a convention every two years (even) on the first weekend of July.
There was a lot of time and planning that went into the organization of the convention. I traveled to Nigeria with Mr. Joseph Onyejose, the chairman of the planning committee at our own expense to meet with and invite several of the stakeholders in the body politic of Anioma as well as notable business personalities. It was not possible to meet with all the personalities due to the time constraint on us and the usual difficulty normally encountered trying to track people down in Nigeria.
We did our best and distributed well over one hundred invitation cards and almost all of the recipients, including some royal fathers, promised to attend the convention. We then got back to the United States and planned accordingly for the occasion with the expectation that most of these honored invitees will show up. To our greatest disappointment, most of them did not attend the AWEC.
If you have ever attended an event here in the USA held by our neighbors to the east of the Niger, or even those organized by other ethnic groups within our Delta State, you will be amazed at the noticeable difference in the number of their leaders and captains of industry from Nigeria that attend these events, no matter where it is held and no matter what the entrance fee is. These leaders understand the need to connect with those in diaspora and use these occasions to give themselves and their agenda greater exposure.
We thank our Distinguished Senator Osakwe, Hon. Chinedu Mekoma (Aniocha South), Councilman William Okwudishu of Okpanam, Chief Andrew Ogoh, Isagba of Ezi, and Osi Okocha a candidate for the state house of Representatives from Aniocha North for journeying all the way from Nigeria to support, honor and grace AWEC.
We also thank the Chairman Izuka Okolo (Oshimili South LGA), Hon. Victor Ochei and Chief Emmanuel Mbulu (Canada) could not be with us at AWEC but expressed their well wishes and supported us financially. Locally, Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Ogbechie (California), Chief Ken Iwelumo, and a host of others, were in attendance and supported us with their presence and donated handsomely.
Senator Patrick Osakwe obviously turned out to be the surprise of the event. He was charming and willing to present alternative ideas to popular views held by most Anioma people. For the record, the senator clearly stated that he is not opposed to and has never been opposed to the creation of an Anioma state. He challenged Aniomas to broaden our horizon and tackle the endemic problem of lack of a strong Anioma identity. According to him, we clamor for a state because we have always felt marginalized in whatever entity we find ourselves in. The reason we feel this way is because we do not feel strong enough or united enough to demand and take what we want including our own state. It is therefore very important that we are seen to be strong and united so that others will begin to take notice, listen and accede to our demands including the demand for our own state.
Politics is a game of numbers and perceptions. If you are perceived to be weak, you will only get lip service, but if you are seen to be strong, you can demand for and get what you want. He pointed to the perceived unity of other ethnic groups in Delta State as well as the strong support their organizations in Diaspora receive from their leaders in Nigeria. It is because of this unity that enables them stand up to the state government and claim what they ask for including the position of executive governor. Apart from Senator Patrick Osakwe, which of our top leaders can we rely on to show up when called on to visit us in diaspora?
The senator urged his Ndokwa people in diaspora to be more active in the politics of Anioma and lamented the fact that only a few of them were present at AWEC. He stressed that if we were united with every Aniocha, Ndokwa, Oshimili and Ika person strongly identifying as Aniomas, it will be an unstoppable combination. The capital is already in Anioma land and the end result is that we will someday get our state and anyone who feels aggrieved can pull away to form their own state. The bottom line is that we should also channel strong efforts towards unity and generating a strong Anioma identity. With a strong identity, state creation will be more coordinated and strongly tackled which will prevent the perpetual run around we have been experiencing from the Federal Government as far back as the 1950s. He also pointed out that in Nigeria, all things are possible with executive power and that is why another focus of Anioma people should be coming together to secure the position of governor.
The election of the national executive officers was conducted during the morning session of the convention on Saturday, July 3, 2010 and all the officers were returned unopposed as follows: Mr. Uche Honnah (National President), Mrs. Greg Odiaka (National Vice President), Ms. Chichi Daniel (Executive Secretary), Mr. Victor Kwentua (Financial Secretary), Mr. Andrew Mordi (Treasurer) and Mr. John Chuka (Social Secretary).
The next Anioma National Convention will be held during the first week of July of 2012 in a yet to be determined location. We will do the selection as stipulated in our constitution by bid and we hope to continuously improve on each convention.
The participants during the day session of the convention came up with the items listed below and urged the national executives to work towards those goals:
• Work with Anioma politicians at home to secure the governorship position for Anioma because that is the surest way of bringing economic development to our area.
• Hold our Anioma politicians accountable by constantly reminding them that they represent the people and not themselves.
• Form a committee to establish stronger links with our leaders at home with the ultimate objective of coordinating and establishing a strong Anioma identity.
• Agitate and work with leaders at home to lobby for basic infrastructure such as roads, light and water.
• Works towards improved education for our youth
The convention came to an end with the gala night dinner and fundraiser.
By Uche Honnah
National President-Anioma Association USA, Inc.
Source: anioma.org
