ICDU CONFERENCE ENDS WITH FAR-REACHING PROSPECTS FOR IBUSA

*Ibusa agrees on the installation of Omu of Ibusa

*Calls for the dissolution of Oloa Omea

*Wants immediate constitution of Izu Igbuzo

*Commends the Ezeoba Peace Committee

Report by Emeka Esogbue (Pen Master)

Rising from its 2021 Annual Conference which held in the community on Saturday April 3 2021, the Ibusa Community Development Union Worldwide took some definite stance on the way forward for the Ibusa community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Several resolutions were contained in the communique signed by Dr. Austin Izagbo, the President-General, Mr. Frank Isioma Okafor, Vice-President, ICDU North-Central, Nigeria and Mr. Austin Nwulia, the General Secretary, NEC Worldwide; and also released after the conference, a copy of which Dr. Izagbo, the President-General of the Association personally delivered to this reporter.

Topping the agenda is the call for the installation of the Omu of Ibusa by the people of the community. The age-long traditional women institution has been absent in the community following the exit of Omu Major Nando, the last of the occupants who passed on more than a decade ago. Since then, the community has been unable to install one despite public advocacy, calling for the return of the revered institution also found in other important communities of Anioma including Asaba, the state capital and Okpanam, a community that shares same local government space with Ibusa among several others.

In spite of the report of near completion of rites by Josephine Isioma Nwannabuogwu, Ibusa has failed to revive the institution as nothing more has been heard from the community's appropriate quarters, raising general concern in the community regarding the fate of the institution.

Incessant disagreements, disunity, division and politicization in the community are some of the factors accountable for inability of the community to readily install traditional occupants in the community as recently seen in Odogwu and Omu, two important traditional positions.

It is however, hoped that the Saturday ICDU approval and push will swing the pendulum to the right direction within the next few weeks being a pan Ibusa Association committed to the development of the community.

The Conference commended Admiral Dele Ezeoba (Retd) headship of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, the efforts which are aimed at returning peace to the community. It also called for the dissolution of the Oloa Omea and constitution of the Obuzor-in-Council, immediate constitution of Izu Igbuzo (Parliament) and suspension of the Obuzor Proclamations, calling on the community's prescribed authority to pass such proclamations through the Ibusa traditional institutions where deemed necessary. The Conference had reasoned the necessity of such proclamations to pass through the dictates of the Delta State Government White Paper that set up the Obuzor Institution. This according to the Conference will allow further deliberations and necessary community buy-in.

Relatedly, the Conference frowned at the constitution of "Ogbe Gomenti" and moved for the dissolution:

"That the Ogbe Gomenti should be dissolved for the Ogbes to be run by the Diokpa as enshrined in the White Paper that establishes the Obuzor Institution".

The communique quoted Hon Innocent Esewezie, the Oshimili North Council Boss who called on ICDU to partner with the Council for the restructuring of Ashieke Plaza along Umejei Road and construction of a new ultra modern market and motor park for the community along the Ibusa By-Pass

In the security front, the communique drew the below attention:

"...Based on the request from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ibusa Ibusa Police Division for the community provision of a functional/operational patrol vehicle in aid of Police Operations in Igbuzo and NEC's request for conference approval for the release of one of the donated Toyota Sienna vehicles for the joint use of the ICP and the Police under the guidance of the management of ICDU Security Committee. Conference approved same and one of the Sienna vehicles was provided handed over to the DPO and the ICP at the Conference venue for that purpose".

The ICDU National Conference is attended by delegates and representatives of all the branches or chapters of the Union in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. It is also attended by traditional institutions, Ibusa clubs, societies and other stakeholders in the community. This year's edition happened inside the Lincoln Event Centre in Ogboli part of the community.

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