Imo Citizens in Gulf Region hold AGM …Pledge maximum support to govt

The Annual General Meeting, (AGM) of Imo Citizens in Gulf Region has taken place at  Fresh Point Restaurant, MCC Uratta Road by Toronto junction with massive turnout of members of the association.

In an interview with newsmen on the occasion, the president, Imo citizen in Gulf Region, Chief Sir Chima Izunwanne Oguekusi noted that they always hold their AGM in Nigeria every second week of January every year, noting that after the AGM in Nigeria other subsequence meeting will be held in Dubai.

Chief Oguekusi further described AGM of Imo Citizens in Gulf Region as a forum where all their members who came back for Christmas gather to discuss the way forward.

Sir Oguekusi who revealed that the association has been more than 17 years in existence, also, recall that 14 years ago, they did inauguration of the association in Dubai and the late former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, late Rt Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu, former Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri and some members of Imo Legislature were in attendance.

He noted that their slogan is “Onuru ube nwanne agbala oso” and they take care of their people in need, their papers, pointing out that they brought home the corpse of one of their members who died abroad.

The president revealed that the association bought hectares of land which will be shared among the members, donated a container of stationery to the government,

“This year, we are supposed to go to hospitals, offset bills but we didn’t do it because of expenses. We take medical outreach to senatorial zones. People cry for payment of bills. Our association is big. We try to do what we can. The problem in Nigeria is much”, he stated.

He advised Imo people to be law abiding, behave well, support the government, and expressed the determination of the association members to give maximum support to the government.

Also speaking, Nze Alphonsus Chukwunenye Ezerioha from Orsu LGA  who is one of the pioneer members of the association noted that they are about 500 members in Gulf Region and also revealed their plans to partner with the government in so many areas including provision of school materials.

Nze Ezerioha said the association is waxing stronger and they do not want satellite association but want the association to be the strongest and are trying to avoid anything that may cause problem between the association and government.

He maintained that they use the association fund to assist their members and also use individual  money to offset bills in hospital, visit charity homes to assist the less privileged members and encouraged members to assist the bereaved members while they also assist those who are unable to travel to Dubai.

In his remarks, the 2nd Vice President of the association who hails from Okigwe zone, Mr Godwin Chukwuma disclosed that the AGM is a time when they take  review of their performance, plan for future, look at their lapses, seek opinion of their members and ensure that the lapses are settled.

Mr Chukwuma enumerated the achievements of the association to include charity work, visit to the orphanage and hospital, stressing that because of inflation and economic lapses, they could not do it last year.

According to him, “We are here to enlarge our membership, let people know our vision. Our members who left years back have come back. Our membership keeps increasing.