For several hours penultimate Sunday, prominent sons, daughters, wives, in-laws, friends and well-wishers of Amaimo People’s Assembly (APA) resident in Lagos gathered at the Glorypoint Group of Schools at Costain area of Lagos for their special prayer session and get-together. They also used the occasion to appraise the activities of the Assembly and to strategise for the coming year.
Primarily, the event was put together to enable the youth of Amaimo, which is one of the most populous towns in Imo State to embrace the people’s cultures and traditions and to also identify with the gathering of Umunna to enable them to continue with the mores of the land when their fathers have retired or joined their ancestors.
Nature, as if in total appreciation of the moods of the members of the community, played very rewarding role. The hot scotching sun became humane. The harsh atmosphere suddenly turned out to be friendly. The sun shone brightly out of the azure sky. The cool breeze caressed the skin to ease the hitherto unpleasant feelings of the members.
Songs, praises and worship which were conducted by the in-house prayer warrior, Evangelist Valentine Mgbemere and others created an atmosphere of razzmatazz. Huge crowd gathered to behold a socio-cultural spectacle and catch some fun usually experienced once in a year.
It was all glamour and show of opulence, as an estimated crowd of 3,000 that included members of Amaimo People’s Assembly in Lagos, friends, well-wishers and some prominent indigenes of Lagos, participated in the celebration.
As early as 12 noon that day, the roomy arena had begun to witness massive influx of spectators.
Gaily dressed Amaimo women known for their panache and active social lifestyle were a marvel to behold. The men equally in their several and beautiful attire swirled to the suiting rhythm of drums and other musical instruments in that somewhat balmy afternoon. It was a gathering of who is who in Igbo land.
The venue was enveloped in an air of brotherliness and friendship. It was, indeed, a gathering of who-is-who in this peaceful Imo community in Lagos.
Speaking as Chairman on the occasion, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr. Fab Uzor expressed his happiness over the initiative by the leadership of APA to encourage our young ones to cultivate the habit of identifying with their elderly ones.
“Cultural gatekeepers have maintained that the future of any nation rests on the shoulders of youths of today since the responsibility of leading the society in future rests squarely on their shoulders. Therefore, anything targeted at this group of persons must be worthwhile and directed at helping them in fulfilling their purpose as would-be leaders.
“Leadership is an art as well as an activity through which the affairs of men in the society are directed in line with the attainment of goals. As youths get prepared for leadership roles; it is pertinent to acquire moral standards and values that will mold them into personalities ready to lead for the progress of the society.
“As older generations tutor the younger ones, it is incumbent on the younger generations to take over the mantle of leadership from the older when their bones become weak and their strength become feeble.
He noted that the end of the year celebration affords sons and daughters the opportunity to know themselves better.
“It is an opportunity for most of us to know ourselves better and also a platform to tell us about the history of our community.
“This platform enables us all to gather ones a year, fundamentally at the twilight of the year, to give praises to God for sustaining us all through the year and also to remind us that there is no place like home. In any circumstance, we will still go back to Amaimo,” he said.
He, however, frowned at the low turnout of people at the get-together, noting that he would partake in any endeavour to ensure unity and more attendance of the meeting by the indigenes both within and outside the country from 2019.
“The attendance was not encouraging as I had expected quite a huge crowd based on the fact that there are several thousands of Amaimo sons and daughters resident in Lagos.
“We should understand that occasions such as this would help in addressing issues affecting youths in the community. I urge members to be more committed to the affairs of the community,” he said.
Expressing his determination to develop the union, he explained that robust membership in the union would be a key focus next year.
“It is my hope that next year’s edition would be better in terms of attendance and preparation as I will have a chat with the President of APA on the way forward.
“Anything that we need to do to get people of Amaimo united, make them think home and make them to understand that we have no other home than Amaimo, I will play a part in it.
Mr. Uzor advised the youth “to think home, sleep home, and eat home. Whatever they do, they should think of home first. We are going make them embrace our vision in 2019 and beyond which is showing more commitment to the development of our community and work towards its advancement.”
Addressing the members earlier, the President of APA, Chief Joseph Efuneshi expressed the need for APA members to rise above the primordial notion that the essence of attending communal meetings is to be buried by the community when one dies.
He said: “Town union such as ours is an agency of Amaimo community at large through which its development is achieved. Society and cultures are vibrant; therefore, social institutions grow with the society.
“The Town union has continued to grow, especially in Igbo society and has acquired new names such as progressive association, development union and Town Union. Thus, the Town Union has assumed the status of civil society organisation with improved administrative structures. Apart from undertaking several development and infrastructural projects, it has continued to serve as the organ for local administration in Igbo land and in the Diaspora.
The importance of community development cannot be relegated to the background as its significance stems from its recognised role in the process of achieving the improvement of economic, social, political and cultural conditions of the communities.”
Dignitaries at the event were Chief Uba Igbokwe, Omekahuruanya of Umuofor, Dr and Mrs Igbokwe Jerlath, Executive Director Sims Samsung Mr Fab Uzor; President Amaimo People’s Assembly, Chief Joseph Efuneshi, his wife Lolo Gina Efuneshi; Chairperson Amaimo People’s Assembly Women’s wing Mrs Philomena Iheazor; Chief Charles Uwa; Chief Anyaso; Mrs Harriet Anyaso; Chairman Egbelu Town Mr. Ikechukwu Madu and Vice-President APA, Nwaneri Okey Vitalis.
Others were Paul Onyeibe; John Onyeibe; Chidozie Iheazor; Pastor Okechukwu Onuoha; Mrs Ngozi Onuoha; Patrick Nwachukwu; Mr Israel Anyanwu; Assistant Secretary APA Abiaka Stanley Echedo; Mrs Eunice Okoro; Chairman Igbo Community Isolo Local Government Area, Hon. Tony Ofoegbu; Evangelist Valentine Mgbemere; Chairman Event Planning Committee, Mr Emma Ahamefule; his wife Princess Ahamefule; Rev (Dr) Louis Ekwugha and‘ Mr Emmanuel Ugo, among others.
