… As they show solidarity to Sen Uzodimma
By Chinedu Ohanukachukwu
Women from the autonomous communities and the 13 INEC Wards in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State converged at Orlu LGA Headquarters recently for their 2023 August Meeting where the wife of the Council Sole Administrator, SOLAD, Mrs Augustina Mbarie, in her key note address posed the question: “What is August Meeting?” and proceeded to answer it thus: “August Meeting is an annual congress held by Igbo women in the month of August. It is a massive home coming event whereby women in diaspora and the cities travel back to their matrimonial villages to meet with their counterparts to discuss matters about the community development”.
The wife to Hon Pst Chris Mbarie went further to hold the attention of the large audience to the crux of her address with such subtitles as: “Women supporting women by celebrating each other’s success, encouragement, advice and love. “Gender base violence — psychological, sexual, socio-economic, cultural, religious, domestic violence and some factors that the female gender are always victim of — trafficking, female genital mutilation, girl child education and child marriage.
On “war against drug abuse” the Orlu LGA First Lady explained what constitutes drug abuse and listed ways drugs could be abused to include: “alcohol, narcotics and amphetamines”.
She enumerated why people abuse drug, stating how drug addicts could be helped even as Mrs Mbarie pointed out: “Through the help of our First Lady, Her Excellency, Barr Chioma Uzodimma in partnership with Mr Abubakar Wali, the Commander of NDLEA during workshop on drug abuse management, the Goodhope Flourish Foundation and Imo Ministry of Women Affairs, where it was made known that 25 individuals addicted to drugs have been rehabilitated and 78 teachers and 50 security personnel trained over the past year to assist in alleviating and reduction of criminal activities”, she submitted, expressing appreciations to the Imo First Lady for “All her interventions and good works”.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Sole Administrator (SOLAD), Pst Mbarie, expressed gratitude to God for gift of life, clement weather, relative peace, performing governor, Dist Sen Hope Uzodimma (Onwa nwere weight) and for all in attendance for gracing the August occasion even as he called for total support that will ensure overwhelming victory for Sen Hope Uzodimma at the November 11th Guber election.
Others who spoke in the same vein were: Hon Evang Magnus Nnadi (Orlu West LGDA Coordinator), Dr Emeka Enyinnia (Isibude), SA to the Gov on Public Policy, Hon Chief Ifeoma Ndukwu (Ugwumsinachi), APC State Woman Leader, Commissioner for Public Orientation and Religious Affairs, Hon Anthony Okonkwo (Mentality Change) who rated Orlu LGA Women August Meeting high compared to others he witnessed.
He further charged the good people of Orlu to reciprocate the wonderful works of the 3Rs administration led by Governor Hope Uzodimma with a renewed mandate come November 11. While thanking the SOLAD and wife for the success of the August Meeting, Commissioner extended his wife greetings, adding that her absence was due to her putting to bed a new baby.
Highlights of the events were: Special songs by Imo Hope for Good Governance women, inspiring songs from APC women, cultural dance by Amaifeke women, march pass by each community, and showcasing of food products among others.
Hon Nneoma Ndukwu offered prayers that drew the curtains to the August Congress that kick started with kola nuts blessed by HRM, Eze Thomas Obiwuru Obiefule, Okairoro Umudioka Ancient Kingdom.
