Emmanuel Amatokwu Calls for the Revival of the La

gos Branch of Ibusa ICDU

- Emeka Esogbue

Ibusa Sports Club Coordinator and one-time Oshimili North Local Government Area Chairmanship contestant, Mr. Emmanuel 'Kwasa' Amatokwu have called on the people of the Ibusa community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State to ensure the revival of the Lagos Branch of the Ibusa Community Development Union also known as ICDU.

Amatokwu also called "Mayor of Ibusa" by his admirers made the call in Ibusa on Saturday via the email he sent to a chain of prominent indigenes of the Ibusa Community and other stakeholders, a copy he forwarded to PEN MASTER.

Worried by near loss of value, the former Banker wrote, "it has come to our notice that despite all the efforts put in place by the Ibusa Think Tank to make sure that those of us in Lagos take our ICDU meetings very seriously, our Lagos Town Union is dying. Unfortunately, the move has been allowed to gradually fizzle out," Amatokwu who is noted for his coordination of affairs in the community observed.

"I know the efforts the Think Tank put up with several meetings at the residence of Mr. Agiliga James Okocha in Surulere with the members of the Think Tank attending several meetings there."

"The likes of Ezinne Maureen Okonkwo, Mr 'Thunderbolt' Benedict, and others were always present."

At the time in question, we formed the Lagos Island Branch to cover Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, and Epe areas; Lagos Mainland to cover Surulere, Apapa, and Ikeja areas; Festac, Alimosho, and Ikorodu axis."

Some of the notable indigenes he named for the roles played in ensuring the take-off and sustainability of the Lagos meetings were Mr. Mike Ajukwu, Dr. Tony Azuya, Diokpa Delly Ajufo, Sir Henry Onyemem, Ide Austin Izagbo, Dr. Nosike Agokei, Mr. Mike Mornu, Mr. Greg Enuha, Mr. Morgan Agetua, Sir Charles Nmarkwe, Pastor Ike Ofuokwu, Abu Udeze, Buchi Emeagwai, Chris Mogaha, Ben Ejeteh, Kelvin Njideaka, Enyi Mrs. Philo Okonkwo, James Okocha, Mr. Frank Nwabudike, Chief Frank Odita and Elder Emeka Esogbue (this author), among others.

"We know all the roles we all played that kept the meetings going," Emmanuel Amatowu further said.

"All of a sudden after COVID-19 epidermic when all other branches moved on, ours finally died."

Emmanuel Amatokwu who in the statement lamented the inability of Ibusa youngsters to communicate in the Enuani dialect said, "they do not know our culture and our value system."

He called on magnanimous indigenes to work to summon the people to a meeting and suggested that meetings either hold twice a month or quarterly for the convenience of everyone.

On why meetings came to a sudden halt, Kwasa noted boredom of meetings, monopoly of meetings by Ndi Diokpa (elders), and meeting distance as excuses offered by attendees but warned of the implication of abandoning meetings which spell danger according to him.

The Ibusa Community Development Union (ICDU) formerly Ibusa Union, an umbrella body of the Ibusa people at home and the Diaspora played a historic role in rebuilding the community after the civil war.

Activities of the Town Union that climaxed in the 1980s, suddenly dropped, losing appeal to members.

While some observers have criticized the body for its lack of significant feats in the present century, others blame the traditional norm in which they claim age-long disobedience to constituted authorities by indigenes. However, a general suggestion calls for a reform in which the youths should be carried along in the Organization's affairs as an urgent necessity to sustain the existence of the largest socio-cultural umbrella body of the community.

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