The leaders of Uratta clan comprising six autonomous communities with six traditional rulers have commended the current executive of Uratta Development Association, UDA for deeming it necessary to register Uratta Development Union (UDU) as an umbrella body of the component communities.
They added that registering the group with the Corporate Affairs Commission ,CAC, Abuja, will not only give it legal backing but will also make it a socio-cultural organization unlike the current name that makes it look as if it is a social club.
The leaders who stated this while responding to a report captioned, “Amakohia Uratta autonomous community dissociates self from proposed formation of Uratta Towns Union”, published in a Watchdog Newspaper, edition of Thursday, October, 3, 2024, berated the Traditional ruler of Amakohia autonomous community in Owerri North Local Government Area, HRH, Eze Boniface Chidindu, the President General, Dr Tony Agumadu, and their cohorts for opposing the move which they said, is a collective decision reached at a meeting of the General Assembly, the highest decision making organ, as stipulated in the constitution.
They wondered why the Amakohia Monarch and his group allowed themselves to be used by those they described as disgruntled elements and hatchet jobbers, who do not wish Uratta clan well.
They said, “the current executive of UDA, has exhibited its determination to transform and reposition the Uratta clan by initiating people oriented programmes and policies. For instance, the request that all the component communities should submit names of their sons and daughters with impeccable character and unblemished track records to be part of the expanded exco is aimed at further democratizing the group to make it more formidable because these distinguished men and women from diverse backgrounds will bring their wealth of experience, social and political clout to bear. This will no doubt yield desired results that will restore the lost glory of the Uratta Clan that used to occupy a vantage position in the affairs of the State. What the current executive of UDA needs is the support, encouragement and cooperation of all well meaning Uratta sons and daughters and not the negative sentiments being sponsored and peddled by some pathological mischief makers whose stock is to allegedly heat up the polity, engage in fraudulent land and other transactions that are currently subjects to litigation”.
They commended the executive of UDA for initiating moves to register the UDU pointing out that Uratta Development Association that has been in existence since 1946 was regrettably not registered as a corporate entity by successive administrations till date. This, according to them is an aberration which the new leadership of UDA wants to correct. Yet some mischief makers are trying to truncate it.
Responding to a question, they said, “there is documentary evidence to show that HRH, Eze Boniface Chidindu of Amakohia autonomous community, the President General and their cohorts are fully aware of the collective decision to register UDU, contrary to the falsehood they are concocting and spreading with impunity.
The General Assembly, aside deciding that the UDU should be registered also urged the representatives of the component communities to come with their suggestions and inputs about that and other decisions to a meeting scheduled to hold on 26th October 2024. Why did the Amakohia Monarch, the President General and their sponsors not wait till then to air their grievances if they are genuine, instead of rushing to the press in a desperate bid to score cheap points at the instance of their alleged pay masters”.
One of the traditional rulers from Uratta clan who expressed dismay at the conduct and attitude of his Amakohia colleague, said, “all of us were given copies of a letter dated 6th August 2024, with the caption, “REQUEST TO SUBMIT TWO NAMES FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF UDA”.
The letter which was addressed to the chairman of Uratta Clan traditional rulers, HRH, Eze Emmanuel Okoro and copied to all the traditional rulers in Uratta clan, including HRH, Eze Chidindu of Amakohia, who is now raising dust itemized the decisions reached at the meeting of the General Assembly, hence any traditional ruler or President General in Uratta clan claiming ignorance of the unfolding developments is being mischievous, may be for pecuniary benefits”.
A copy of the said letter which he gave to this reporter for perusal reads, in part, “After extensive discussions on the itemized subject matters of concern, the people of Uratta and the UDA executives, at our recently held General Assembly of July 20th 2024 and our extended Exco meeting of 3rd August 2024, arrived at and affirmed these resolutions which I now write to formally inform you our esteemed traditional rulers:
The UDA will be formally registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja.
Every component town in Uratta should submit 2 nominees from which one will be selected to represent the community on the Board of Trustees of the Union.
All communities are indebted to the UDA for their annual dues of N20.000 per year for 2023 and 2024.These dues must be paid in full in order to have representation on the BOT.
Women. Mgboto and Youth wings with fully functioning executives will be \^ enshrined in the reviewed constitution.
The name Uratta Development Association (UDA) will be changed to either Uratta Development Union or Uratta Union depending on which one CAC approves.
The Finance Committees report will be included in the reviewed constitution.
The Constitution Review Committee will be the same that produced the 2022 Constitution, ably led by Chief Anozie Ebekuodike as Chairman and Okenze Henry Unegbu as Secretary.
In the light of the above and in line with this our collective decisions, we solicit the cooperation of your Royal Highness’s and to further direct your respective PG’s forward to us two names of distinguished sons or daughters who will represent your communities in the pioneer BOT. Please note that the persons should be men or women of integrity, good character and means, who are fit and proper to represent your communities and propel Uratta forward. The lists should be forwarded to me directly or thrrough the UDA representative from your communities, on or before the 30th day of August. 2024 The sum of N40,000(Forty Thousand Naira) being annual dues owed for 2023 and 2024, must accompany each submission.
This would enable us to fund the CAC registration.
With the approval of Ndi Eze Uratta a subsequent date for the selection of 1 member out the 2 nominees will be decided soon after the 30th August 2024,
Thanking you in anticipation
For and on behalf of UDA”.
When contacted for comment, the National President General of Uratta Development Association UDA, Chief Stanley Ukega (Dike eji eje mba) declined comment, pointing out that his primary focus is to deliver on his mandate for the good of his people and to the glory of God and not to join issues with anybody.
