Ogbona Federated Union

OGBONA IMHAKHENA ASAMA FEDERATED UNION GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT (1987-2004) CHIEF MATTHIAS A AKPAIBOR It gives me great a pleasure to present to the Union this day, this report of my seventeen years in Office as the General Secretary of Ogbona Imhakhena Asama Federated Union. I hereby thank the entire community, both at home and abroad, for the opportunity given me to serve. I took over this office when it was at its infancy and I had little or nothing to start with the co-operation of the first, second and third Presidents, Chief A. O. Itsuokor, Chief T. A. Osigbemhe JP. The Okphe-Ukpi of Ogbona and Arc. J.E.A Orbih respectively the union started growing from strength to strength. The Union was formed in 1976 with Protem Officers as Chief A. O. Itsuokor – President, Mr. G. I. Kadiri – Secretary and Chief M.A. Akpaibor as the Asst. Gen. Secretary.  A constitution committee headed by Mr. P. S. Eleta was set up. The Draft Constitution was submitted in1982 and was adopted and passed into law in the same year. The first Union executive council members were elected into the following offices:- President                        –        Chief A. O. Itsuokor       –        Lagos Branch Vice President                 –        Mrs. S. A. Anetekhai      –        Benin Branch General Secretary          –        Dr. J. E. Umole              –        Benin Branch 1st Asst. Gen. Secretary –        Chief M. A. Akpaibor      –        Warri Branch 2nd Asst. Gen. Secretary –        Mr. P. Osigbemhe           –        Ibadan Branch Treasurer                       –        Okhaemoi P. S. Eleta     –        Auchi Branch Financial Secretary        –        Mr. M. G. Enakpene       –        Auchi Branch Publicity Secretary         –        Sir P. M. Anaweokhai     –        Lagos Branch Social Secretary             –        Mr. R. A. Edogamhe       –        Benin Branch Legal Adviser                  –        Chief C. A. Ekhasemomhe       Kaduna Branch Ex-Officers                     –        Mr. M. Asapokhai           –        Kano Branch “                            –        Mr. A. Oghena                –        Ile Ife Branch “                            –        Okhaemoi J. Edogamhe           Ogbona Branch “                            –        Mr. A. Oyagha                –        Warri Branch “                            –        Mr. J. I. Odior                –        Ogbona Branch Patrons                          –        Chief J. O. Odalumhe    –        Ogbona Branch “                            –        Mr. Francis Asekomhe   –        Ogbona Branch “                            –        Pa. Abu Idinokhai          –        Ogbona Branch “                            –        Pa. Odia Ikhane             –        Ogbona Branch “                            –        Pa Aleghe Orbih             –        Ogbona Branch   Ogbona was elected to be the Headquarter of the Union and it was agreed that the name of the Union should be known as “OGBONA IMHAKHENA FEDERATED UNION”. The financial branch unions were eight comprising, Auchi, Benin, Ibadan, Ile-Ife, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Warri while the home body was dragging their feet over the name of the union. We are grateful to God today as the number has increased from eight branch members to ten branch members including the home branch, Abuja, Ilorin. Port-Harcourt branch which was one of the recent registered branches, is neither here nor there for reasons best known to them. The aims and objectives of the Union were well spelt out in the 1982 constitution. After one year in office, the General Secretary declined his post and I was appointed to act which I did for one year before I was appointed for the post of the General Secretary in 1985. When I took over the office, the financial branch members still remained eight. The home which supposed to be the headquarters was still doubting whether to accept the name or to stay away because of the name. Then the financial position was very poor. The only main avenue for funding was the monthly subscriptions from the eight branches of the Union. The attendance of the executive council meetings was encouraging expect some branches whose members were not regular, mainly Ile-Ife and Kano. These two branches claimed that they always received letters late. After normalizing their postal addresses, the Ile-Ife branch complained that their members were new converts and that they would not accept the name “Ogbona Imhakhena Union” The Kano branch of the Union complained that due to frequent riots in Kano for the past years, they could not form any useful union. Recently, they informed the federated bodies that they had re-organized and would act fully Ile-Ife remains dormant till date. The union could not achieve any meaningful development during these years till 1986 because it embarked on reconciliation of the two factions that were Asama and Abokhasomhi unions, which were formed because of the Chieftaincy dispute in the community. The Ogbona Imhakhena Federated Union called on them to allow the Chieftaincy matter take its cause and form a development union. That is what the Federated Union stands for in order to have a coon front which the community can channel their problems through to the government for meaningful development of the community. This took the Federated Union time but those who saw what the union stands for were carried along by the union while those who believed that their cause had to be met remained still battling with their Chieftaincy cases. As at today, all these are history as Ogbona Imhakhena Asama Federated Union break the ice and unite the whole factions together and brought them to the popular body both home and abroad. At the 1987 Annual Conference, the National Executive Council of Ogbona Imhakhena Federated Union was dissolved and there was an election where the following members were elected:- President                        –        Chief T. A. Osigbemhe JP        –        Benin Branch Vice President                –        Sir P. M. Anaweokhai              –        Lagos Branch General Secretary          –        Chief M. A. Akpaibor               –        Warri Branch 1st Asst. Gen Secretary   –        Mr. R. A. Edogamhe                 –        Auchi Branch 2nd Asst. Gen. Secretary –        Mr. D. Akhamiemhona            –        Ibadan Branch Treasurer                       –        Okhaemoi P. S. Eleta               –        Auchi Branch Financial Secretary        –        Chief P. S. Anyiador                –        Benin Branch Asst. Fin. Secretary        –        Mr. M. Asapokhai                    –        Kano Branch Publicity Secretary         –        Mr. G. I. Kadiri                        –        Auchi Branch Social Secretary             –        Mr. P.C.I Okhakumhe