AN ADDRESS PRESENTED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF AKAH NATIONAL UNION, AT THE FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ANU, HOSTED BY ANU, TRI-STATE CHAPTER, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, USA, OCTOBER 20, 2007 by Dr. Johnny A. Mez, President:

I want to thank the president, Sir Charles Egeolu, and members of ANU, Tri-State Chapter for hosting this exploratory AGM on this day the Chapter is celebrating their Cultural Day and Fundraiser. I wish them good luck and success in their celebration and fundraiser event.

The AGM provides a forum for all Akah people to discuss some matters of great concern to the Union and that affect our homeland. I find it proper for the general membership to assess the performance of the leadership of the union, and to clarify such issues as the degree of authority it delegates to the Administrative and Executive Councils in furthering the mission and purpose of the Union. Specifically, I expect the General Assembly to clarify who are members of the Union, among other issues.

This address will briefly describe the purpose of existence of Akah National Union, USA (ANU), its brief historical background, organizational structure, challenges, and a summary of some of the milestones accomplished by the leadership.

Purpose and Mission of ANU, USA

Every organization, formal or informal, has a purpose for existence. That purpose may be implicit or explicit. For ANU, USA, its explicit purpose is described here. Akah citizens convened in Atlanta Georgia in September 2006, and in one voice prayed to be united as a people in the U.S., and to forge heads together to tackle down inter-village conflicts and the menaces of poverty, illiteracy, and inefficiency that have been weighing down on their people back home. Our mission is to wipe out poverty and illiteracy and institute modern leadership techniques in Akah through transfer of technology (knowledge). Our tools will include investments and educational programs to wipe out poverty and illiteracy in, and to modernize the communities of Akah. The only means to displace poverty is through education and investment. As many of us are lawyers, investment professionals, professors and college instructors, business and social experts, we have decided to use the knowledge we have acquired in our sojourning to tackle down such menaces as poverty, ineffective leadership, and illiteracy in our motherland.

In order for the people of Akah in the U.S. to be united, all members of ANU should have a stake in a commonly owned property or project. Hence, the call to embark on investments that have potentials for funding ANU’s programs and activities, which are consistent with ANU’s mission. It is ironic that people of Akah always sing the conventional proverb that, if people urinate together on the same spot, the urines will foam up like soapy water. However, with such truism and awareness of the impact of group efforts, the people do not always seem to want to join hands together as a people to create lasting and positive impressions. I wonder at the cause of such incongruence.

Historical Perspective of ANU, USA

This section describes how ANU, USA came into existence. For over six years, an organization of the people of Akah heritage in the U.S. called Umuaka Development Union (UDU), USA became paralyzed and dysfunctional. There was need for a new organization that would reunite all the people with fresh purpose and mission. During the same period, some concerned citizens of Akah used a “self-created” team of key individuals to solicit for funds for the burial of His Royal Highness Eze G. C. “Aja” Agwubuo, the Ozoano 1 of Amazano, in August 2005. The team was christened the Ozoano Burial Committee (OBC) under the chairmanship of Hon. Okems Innocent Okemezie. Following its success, the members resolved to replace the OBC with another committee to redirect the affairs and purpose of UDU-USA, and unify all Akah people in the USA. In order to wage against the resulting “you can go to hell” attitude of members and the leadership of UDU, USA, Old Umuaka Unification Committee, otherwise known as “OUUC” was conceived in November 2005. I was chosen by the members to chair that historic OUUC, which became the Supreme Court and voice of Akah people with two representatives from each of the former 10 villages. It was OUUC that brought all Akah people together in Atlanta for a new beginning and unity among all. That convention resulted in the creation of Akah National Union, USA on September 3, 2006.

Akah National Union, USA (ANU)—a nonprofit organization, is a union of the people of all the former 10 villages that were collectively called “Umuakah” (the offspring or descendants of Akah), in the U.S. The former 10 villages are Ubah, Isiozi, Achara, Amiyi, Ugbele, Amakor, Ibele, Umuele, Obeakpu, and Obinwanne. The name “Akah” was thoroughly scrutinized and chosen by all of the former villages. It is encompassing and suitable to be appended to the name of each village that becomes autonomous.

Umuakah of the former 10 villages is a rural community of approximately 52,000 people. Although, the town has produced many educated professionals who are resident in the US, it is rural, primitive, and poor. The town is surrounded by several crises—ranging from inter-village conflicts, unemployment, and the absence of well equipped health clinics, water, road networks, and clean school facilities. The villages are today disintegrated and deeply immersed in hatred among each other. The reasons for the conflicts and all other social problems are poverty, illiteracy, and lack of modern administrative skills.

Organizational Structure of ANU, USA

As discussed above, the Union is constituted by 10 member villages with two delegates for each village. The 20 members representing their villages/communities constitute the ANU Administrative Council, which is responsible for day-to-day operational functions, like managing the debts and credits of the organization, monitoring projects, making administrative policies, and scheduling conferences. The Administrative Council houses the presidency and all the executive officers of ANU. Another governing arm of the Union is the Executive Council. It is made up by the Administrative Council and supporting chapters, which are represented by their presidents or their designees. Table 1 below lists the village representatives by name.

Table 1: Village Representatives

 The following people represent their respective chapters in the Executive Council (see Table 2):

Table 2: Chapter Presidents/Designees

 The Executive Council reviews all decisions made by the Administrative Council, and has the power to reject, modify, and/or approve such decisions.  A decision may originate from the Executive Council, subject to full discussion by all members, and a decision is reached by consensus. Sometimes, votes are used in making decisions by the Council for, and on behalf of all Akah people in the US.

In addition to both the Administrative and the Executive Councils, there is the General Assembly, which is made up of the general membership of the Union. The General Assembly is supreme to the two governing councils, and has final say in all matters. It is the body that mandates power to the two councils. Like today, I will ask the General Assembly to clarify if the Executive Council has the power to develop projects and levy funds and if not, to grant the Council the power to do so for furthering the purpose and mission of the Union. Among other requests, I will also ask the General Assembly to use its voting rights to suspend any Akah person or organization in the U.S. militating against the efforts of the Union. Some people have been found to be using propaganda and misleading information on the internet as a way to sabotage against the mission of ANU, USA and policies appropriately created by the Executive Council. Such persons should be suspended or barred from all social and political activities of Akah people in the U.S.

Challenges Facing ANU, USA

Our challenges include militancy and misuse of creativity for division and separatism, resistance to new waves of change, selfishness, fear of lack of trust by some former villages, and ignorance of some of our political leaders back home. Such challenges are discouraging and disruptive. I advise those who believe that they can kill and destroy the efforts of honest and godly people who are using their resources for the sustenance of the identity of Akah people should try to have a change of hearts. They should not allow the powers and opportunities in their disposal to go in vain. The evil that men do lives after them according to conventional wisdom. When such people use their powers and opportunities for better Akah and for the good of the people, their returns or benefits will be immeasurable. Their children and children’s children will remain blessed for ever, and will therefore lead happy lives. How can one be happy that one destroys one’s father’s kingdom? How can you announce to friends and colleagues that you did it—destroyed your people, crushed them, and tore their name and identity?

Conversely, if you believe in yourself, and trust your qualities, you should educate the others, including your predecessors and contemporaries, who failed to do it right. You should not be worse than them. Rather, you should prove your claims by making positive and productive change. You should not engage in acts that will leave you with only bad names. You should not trash your surpluses because you suspect others as enemies. You should not severe the existence of others because you believe they have been suppressive, and now you want to revenge. In the Bible, Jesus implored God to not punish those who crucified him for they were ignorant of the effect of their deed. You should therefore be a builder of your community, your heritage, and not a destroyer.

Another challenge of the Union is the fact that some member villages/communities do engage in acts of sabotage against the decisions of the Executive Council of the Union. It is incomprehensible that the villages mandated the Council to make policies and decisions on their behalf, but after such decisions are made, some of the villages put aside the fact that they have representation in the decision making, and decide not to conform to such. Such a behavior is uncivilized. It is barbaric and paints a grim picture of irresponsibility on the part of such villages and/or the perpetrators within those villages. The best thing do is to be patient with any decision made by the Council and wait for a time when the opportunity to change such a decision will present itself. Circumventing the decisions of the Council is a total disrespect on the Union and the people of high profile and good character representing such villages.

Recently, many supposedly enlightened Akah citizens in the USA were proposing forming another organization to be called Akah Global Union. The thought alone is already a flaw. If the word “Akah” is part of the name of the to-be organization, it means the organization is going to have the same people who broke or destroyed the existing organization, and consequently, the new organization will not survive. It is exactly what political parties do in Nigeria. When people cannot get their way in their existing parties, they break away and form their own, hence the proliferation of political parties without ideologies. Further, it will cost more efforts in terms of monetary resources and time to create a new organization than to help and participate in making sure the existing one is doing well and meeting its mission and purpose. God created only one Akah in the whole world. Why should an Akah son or daughter want to create a second Akah? Doing so is like dividing a family. In the USA, there are two primary political parties—the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Both parties have common objectives of sustaining the USA as a World Power and Economic leader, although they have differing approaches and ideologies. Neither of the parties purports to divide the country or destroy it, nor wishes the ruling party failure. However, each party wants its members to be in key decision-making positions as in the congress, the judiciary, and/or the presidency. When will people of Akah learn to borrow from the American philosophy of co-existence? When will Akah people in the USA learn to live like people who have seen light? America does not believe in divide and rule; it believes in productivity, sharing, patriotism, caring, giving, and sustenance of their culture and heritage.

I implore all Akah people in the USA not to form another parallel Akah organization. We can co-exist in one organization and try to help those with the same ideology as us take the lead. Let all the people of Akah endeavor for the survival of the existing organization, and make sure it serves all Akah people well. Let all hands help in solving whatever troubles or problems the organization is encountering. If there is problem, everybody should help to fix it. That is what is called united and brotherhood. Organizations do not solve problems; it is the people in organizations. Other communities will not solve the problems of Akah people. Only Akah people will solve their own problems. That is a big challenge to all Akah people in the USA. The problems of Akah people in the U.S. and at home are serious, but are simple to solve. I recommend the solution in three words: “Forgive,” “Respect,” and “Relate.”

I beckon upon you and many others who could not be here today to help me propel our land to its deserving heights. How could you people stand around and watch a foundation you laid to be pulled down? Which community would boast of people like you, your selfless efforts, fame, success and achievement, and professional cliques in the USA, and still evaporate like winter fog? This author needs you. Akah people need you. You should come out and help us do it right. We want to do it right for our poor people back home in Nigeria. We should not let down Akah, our heritage.

Accomplishments of ANU, USA

The problems and resistance of many of the Akah people consumed most of the efforts of the present leadership of ANU, USA during our first year. Often times we use scheduled meetings and available resources for listening and attempting to resolve conflicts and appealing to the resisting members to forget whatever in the past several years caused a division in their midst. The chair of the Unification Committee, Chief Livinus Madu  continues working hard in order to find peace and unity among the factions. Such an enormous amount of efforts has not resulted in positive response by those who are resisting change with the intention to paint the leadership of the Union unsuccessful. I have labeled such people “militants” against progress and “unakathropic.” For example, the director of Vocational, Business and Technology Center has not been active since late April 2007 because his chapter has been resisting participation in the businesses of ANU, USA. Otherwise, the project to establish the center at home should have been completed by now.

Notwithstanding the distractions by the extremist militants against progress, the leadership of ANU, USA has made several leaps. First and foremost, over 70 percent of all Akah people now feel united and supportive of the Union. The Akah e-forum has ceased to be a battlefield where people were used to verbally abusing each other. Many of the active and supporting chapters are now enjoying enormous benefits of networking with each other. Members of the Executive Council have been supporting staunch member chapters in their fundraiser activities, as well as extending condolences to bereaved members.

When the Union was created a year ago, there was need to remodel the Nigeria Police Station in Akah, which was demolished in a riot. The federal government threatened relocating the police to another community if the people of Akah did not fund the remodeling of the building. Today, the Executive Council of ANU, USA is pleased to inform you that the remodeling was completed by the end of August 2007, and the police have joyously reoccupied the station. However, we still need some additional money for some cosmetic touches to the building, like electrical wiring. I must thank all the chapters and the individuals who have continued to lend me their support, particularly by their monetary donations for completing the remodeling project.

In addition, through the selfless vision and efforts of the chair of the political action committee (PAC), Hon. Okems Innocent Okemezie, the City of Newark in New Jersey has extended a sister-city relationship to the communities of Akah. The mutual agreement might be signed sometime next year by the responsible members of the cities of Newark and communities of Akah. 
 

ANU, USA made participation in effecting politics at home on behalf of the communities of Akah during the recent elections in Nigeria. With the initiative of Tri-State Chapter and her able President Sir Charles Egeolu, our PAC chair, solicited for personal contributions, which came to about a total of $8,000.00 to support Charles Ugwu’s governorship campaign on behalf of Akah communities at home. Members of Tri-State Chapter kicked of the contributions in the sum of about $2,000. If things had gone the way the PAC saw them, by today, Akah would have been boasting of having a godfather as governor of Imo State. The following are among those who made personal contributions for active participation of Akah communities in the political landscape of Imo State (Table 3).

Table 3: Individual Contributors for Political Elections of 2007

Contrary to the misleading information the militants were posting on the Akah e-forum, the PAC did not spend even one cent of the Union’s funds in the political elections. In addition, the PAC continues looking into the problem of Akah people fielding over 10 candidates in the elections for the local government chair in Njaba constituency.

The last, but not the least of the accomplished milestones, is the completion our Constitution. I expect the chair of the Constitution Review Committee, Atty. Fidex Nwaozuzu will present the Constitution here today for ratification by the General Assembly. As you will see in the Constitution, for the first time, individual members, chapters, and member villages/communities will henceforth be entitled to real membership benefits from the Union.

In conclusion, I will ask for your continued support, resilience, and your unending efforts in seeking 100 percent unity among all Akah people in the U.S., at home, and all over the world.

God bless you all, our home, and America! 
 

Johnny A. Mez

Johnny A. Mez, the current national president of Akah National Union, USA holds a Ph.D., in Applied Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University (May 1999). He is currently a certified public accountant (CPA), licensed to practice accounting since 1990.

Dr. Mez has developed several successful small businesses, including the first public business center at Afor Umuaka (St. Saviors Shopping Center), 3^rd Eye Securities, Nigeria Limited, Owerri Nigeria, and Mez.com, which provides consulting services in project management and taxation, and exportation of modern technological goods to Nigeria.

Dr. Mez also serves as the CEO of Human Development & Leadership Institute (HDLI), which was founded on the premise of using proper education programs as the means for fighting bribery and corruption in Nigeria. HDLI has been exporting donated medical and educational products to Imo State government and providing counseling to local businesses on quality management and customer satisfaction since 2002. In 2004/05, HDLI under the leadership of Dr. Mez shipped a 40’ HQ container or used computers and various books to the government of Imo State, Nigeria.

Dr. Mez has been serving as an adjunct faculty for California State University at Sacramento, National University, and the University of San Francisco (USF), lecturing accounting and management courses since 2000. In addition, Dr. Mez has been working for the State of California as fiscal consultant and Retirement accountant for over 17 years.