Sunday Agu Emerges Builders’ Workers Chairman as Nwangozi Demands Clean Register

Sunday Agu Emerges Builders’ Workers Chairman as Nwangozi Demands Clean Register

The newly elected executive of the All Builders’ Workers Association, Garki, Umuahia Branch of Abia State, has been charged to restore integrity, transparency and accountability in the affairs of the association and ensure that only genuine members remain on its register.

The charge was given by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr Emmanuel Nwangozi, popularly known as Nwangozi Cement, shortly after announcing the results of the association’s election, which produced a new leadership to pilot its affairs for the next two years.

The election, which members and observers described as free and fair, recorded 152 accredited members, out of which 140 eventually cast their ballots.
Accreditation commenced at 8:30am and ended at 9:30am, while security personnel were deployed to maintain order and ensure a peaceful and hitch-free exercise.

Before voting commenced, candidates contesting the chairmanship position were given the opportunity to present their manifestoes and outline their programmes to members.

Declaring the results, Nwangozi congratulated the successful candidates and urged them to regard their election as a call to service rather than an opportunity for personal enrichment.

He charged the new executive to uphold probity, transparency and accountability, while committing their time and resources towards the growth and development of the association.

Nwangozi also called for a comprehensive membership verification exercise to identify genuine members and eliminate unknown and non-members from the association’s register.

He noted that whoever emerged as chairman should be recognised as the choice of the members, stressing that the credibility of the election had placed a responsibility on the new administration to work in the collective interest of the association.

In the chairmanship contest, Sunday Agu, popularly known as Naked, emerged victorious with 60 votes, defeating Onuoha Kalu, also known as Ichie, a former appointed chairman, who polled 40 votes. Nze Friday secured 24 votes, while Amarachi Jeremiah was absent from the contest.

Friday Nwaenyi emerged Chief Provost with 77 votes, defeating Nwaboy Osobonna, who scored 47 votes. Osobonna will serve as Nwaenyi’s assistant.

Dirichukwu Egbukwala emerged Task Force Chairman after his only contender, Chidiadi Okoro, was disqualified for failing to present himself for accreditation.

For the position of Financial Secretary, Osinachi Goodluck polled 107 votes to defeat Michael Okechukwu Ise, who secured 12 votes.

The contest for Secretary General saw Chinomso Kwubiri score 14 votes, Olugbuo Uchendu 36, Uchenna Enyeribe 20, Celestine U 21, and Obasi Chidiebere Orji 20 votes. Celestine U emerged Assistant Secretary by virtue of recording the second-highest vote in the contest.

Emmanuel Jacob emerged Vice Chairman with 79 votes, defeating Nwabueze Obasi, who polled 37 votes, while Chiduforo Enyika was absent from the contest.
Nze Benedict Nze emerged Treasurer unopposed.

Speaking after the election, members commended the Electoral Committee for the conduct of the exercise, particularly Nwangozi, describing the poll as one of the fairest and most credible elections conducted by the association.

The Chairman of the Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comr.Tchdi Asonye also commended members for the maturity displayed throughout the exercise.
He urged the newly elected executives to embrace servant leadership, work together in unity and ensure that members were carried along in decisions affecting the association.

He equally praised the electoral committee for successfully conducting what he described as a credible election.

Also speaking, Henry Njoku, representative of Indomie Instant Noodles, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election and commended Nwangozi for his efforts towards ensuring a credible process.

Njoku said the newly elected chairman, Sunday Agu, had demonstrated leadership qualities even before the election, urging him to focus on improving the working environment and welfare of members.

He further advocated the introduction of membership identification tags to distinguish genuine members from outsiders and help prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the association.

An observer at the election, Engr. Emmanuel Nwankwo, a lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, also commended the conduct of the poll.

Nwankwo stressed the need for the association to build a cohesive and effective task force capable of protecting its interests and ensuring compliance with its rules and regulations.

Former Councillor representing Amaeke Ward 2 in Airi, Abia State, Hon. Jonah Ebueme, and former Deputy Chairman of Ohafia Local Government Area, Hon. Kelvin Ezeikpe Agbara, also commended the peaceful and seamless conduct of the election.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Sunday Agu, thanked members for the confidence reposed in him and commended the electoral committee for conducting what he described as a credible election.

Agu also praised members for their impressive turnout, promising to remain open to advice, carry members along and pursue the interests, rights and entitlements of the association.

He assured members that his administration would work towards securing what was due to the association and pledged not to betray the confidence reposed in him through the election.

The election has therefore placed the new administration before a clear leadership test, with members expecting it to translate the mandate into stronger membership administration, accountability, unity, improved welfare and better working conditions for builders and workers in the association.