By Samuel Onyekwere
The factional president of Igbo Speaking Community Lagos, Chief Sunday Udeh, has said that there is no division in the union, insisting that he was legitimately elected president of the Igbo social cultural group.
Chief Udeh made this clarification at the appreciation get together he organized to thank the members for electing him president.
He said the massive turn out at the gathering clearly shows that he is the man of the people, adding that he clearly won the election. He added that having paid his dues in the organization, holding various offices; from LGA chairman to chairman of chairmen before becoming the deputy president, Udeh said it is his time to assume the leadership of the union.
On the allegation that he illegally declared himself president in Oshodi, following their inconclusive election, Udeh said the allegation was not true as the election was conclusive and the votes counted clearly showed that he won.
He said: “The vote were counted and out of 198 votes, I garnered 112; Chief Patrick Mbah had 54 votes and Chief Sir Cyril Sunday Ezeama had 28 votes. We went through the normal screening and I scaled through alongside the other two candidates. However, Chief Ebere Ubani, the outgoing president supported the candidature of Patrick Mbah because he was afraid that I will probe his administration when I win the election.”
According to him, the August 31, 2019, election witnessed disruption during vote counting, and this he claimed was orchestrated by one of the contestants, when he found out he had lost the election. However, the ballot boxes were saved and the votes were later recounted at a later date in the presence of the chairmen and Eze Igbo Lagos. He was declared winner and inaugurated as the president on the September 7, 2019.
Chief Udeh said his aim is to move the union forward, borne out of his love for the Igbo nation. He outlined some policies to help the union grow.
Part of his agenda is to visit all the LGAs from next month, alongside members of his executive. At the same time, he will open operational accounts for all the local governments to enable them function effectively.
In addition, his administration intends to establish a cooperative society to help, especially, the women with soft loans. T
he president noted that his administration will not hesitate to sack any non-performing LGA chairman as he wants to create a lasting impact during his tenure. At the end of each year, his administration will declare the statement of account of the union as he added that accountability will be the foundation of his tenure.
His leadership will do its best to give Ndigbo in Lagos a sense of belonging. To ensure this, the union will organize a leadership workshop that will have some prominent Igbo sons as speakers come next month.