ICDU initiates Ibusa development By Emeka Esogbue

ICDU initiates Ibusa development

By Emeka Esogbue

News

Published August 17, 2016

In what has been described as a new dawn for Ibusa, a community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, indigenes of the community on Sunday, August 14, 2016, gathered at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos under the auspices of the Ibusa community Development Union (ICDU) to plan in details areas by which the community can be resituated to meet the demands in modern Nigeria. Speaking at the occasion in which over one hundred sons and daughters of the community were present, the President-General of Ibusa Community Development Union (ICDU), Dr. Austin Izagbo who reiterated the loyalty, commitment and drive of the development union towards the advancement of his community said among other things that the development union would not in any way take the honour and privilege already allowed her for granted.

The President-General who went down the memory lane, recalled that the Lagos Branch remained the engine room of ICDU until leadership crisis rocked her.

‘We remember with nostalgia the leading role Lagos Branch, in days of the old, played in the affairs of the ICDU. In fact, Lagos – Ibusa was the engine room of ICDU Worldwide’.

‘This was the case until the ill-wind of leadership crises rocked the Central Executive Committee of the Lagos ICDU in the early 90s culminating in a break up that led to the emergence of the ill-fated Ibusa Progressive Association of Nigeria (IPAN)’, he said while reading his opening address.

According to the newly elected President-General, IPAN that never found its feet gradually faded off but the bad blood created by the IPAN amongst the then Ibusa elite in Lagos left in its trail a yawning gap in the strength, cohesion and sustenance of the Lagos ICDU. This according to him gradually led to the loss of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and most of the ten branches of Lagos ICDU such as Alimosho, Apapa/Ajegunle, Festac, Surulere, Mushin, Ebute Metta, Yaba, Orile Iganmu, Ikeja and Lagos Island.

However in a message of hope delivered by him, he assured attendees that peace was on the way for the community as the former President-General, Prof. Arinze had by the 2015 National Conference mandated some illustrious sons and daughters of Ibusa to engage themselves and other critical stakeholders of Lagos and Ibusa with a view to resuscitating the ICDU in the Lagos area, an arrangement he said would once again reawaken the Lagos ICDU.

He identified Ibusa light project, peace and conflict resolution and resuscitation of ICDU Lagos as areas to be looked into as a way of advancing the community and further pledged that ICDU would tackle the challenges effectively.

An Ad hoc Committee for the review of the ICDU Constitution and a number of other Standing Committees were announced as constituted with the mandate to consider some special matters assigned them in tackling the Ibusa challenges.

On how ICDU hopes to tackle the problems bedeviling the community, he emphasized:

‘This Executive with the able support of the Think Tank and ICDU UK Branch has since April 2016 held several meetings, consultations and visits with a cross board of critical stakeholders in Ibusa with a view of forging a united crisis free tenor’, Izagbo recounted while mentioning His HRH, Obi (Prof.) Louis Chelunor Nwaoboshi, the Obuzor of Ibusa, the Obuzor in Council, the Contending 3 Senior Diokpas of Ibusa, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the ICDU, the Otu Diokpa in Ibusa, The Ibusa Community Peacekeepers, Ibusa Youth Council among others’.

Also speaking at the event, Ambassador Frank Isoh called for peace among the people of the community as a panacea for social development while lamenting that the Delta State Government now focuses development towards Okpanam while leaving out Ibusa. Prof Pat Utomi’s contribution was centered on the repositioning of the youths for future sustainability of the community. He called for support and concerted efforts for ICDU NEC to enable them achieve their plans for the community.

While reacting to the issues raised earlier by other speakers, Chief Fenlab Nwabueze, another notable indigene of the community advised against incessant abuses on Ibusa elders on the social media by younger persons and categorically demanded respect for elders as a way of enthroning value system in the community.

Members in attendance included Prof Pat Utomi, Amb. Frank Isoh, Chief Fenlab Nwabueze, Dr. Tom Obanya, Dr. Nosike Agokei, Sir Tony Uso Oraegbu, Mr. Mike Mornu, Mr. Morgan Agetua, Mr. Emmanuel Kwasa Amatowu, Bar Chukwudi Okobi among numerous others.

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