By Deacon Charles Anumudu, Emeritus National Secretary & Dr. Pauly Enwere, National Secretary.
On the last day of the 2017 National Convention in the Windy City of Chicago, Chief Tony Okpara was elected unopposed as the 5th President of Orlu Regional Assembly after a successful tenure as Vice President. His election did not come as a surprise to many, having creditably discharged his duties as Vice President for four years. He was thus ably prepared and ready to take on the mantle of leadership from the 4th President, Chief/Dr/Sir Fidelis Ezewike.
In his inaugural speech, Chief Okpara pledged his commitment to do the following:
Continue to uphold ORA Constitution
Ensure that Affiliates are actively engaged by demanding the replacement of non-participating affiliate committee members
- Foster relationships and work with all involved to move our organization forward
- Encourage and support good governance through appropriate committees
- Expand our medical mission program/model to include training when applicable
- Encourage innovative ideas that will be of benefit to ORA
- Continue to engage our youths in ORA activities
- Encourage all members to be part of the national insurance program to eliminate the thought of increasing the bereavement levy.
He further espoused his vision to include:
- Advocacy via ORA PAC: Promote good governance in Orlu zone and Imo State through aggressive advocacy.
- Political Engagement: Encourage and support members of ORA who have political interest in Nigeria or USA – after vetting by ORA PAC
- Resource Center: Create physical presence na ala Orlu (a resource center) through which ORA members can request services, and such can be provided at reasonable costs.
Upon assumption of office, Chief Okpara hit the ground running in pursuit of his vision and commitment to take ORA to the next level. He started by identifying the right members for appointment into various standing and ad hoc committees. He led by example by showing up at every committee meeting, sometimes attending two or more at the same time. Chief Okpara made sure that every Committee lived up to expectations and that affiliates are well represented.
Chief Okpara presided over 2 in-person national conventions before the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic that necessitated the next two conventions to be virtual. Both the in-person conventions of 2018 in Atlanta and 2019 in Washington DC exceeded expectations in both fundraising and attendance.
In 2020, when the world virtually came to a halt due to a global pandemic, Chief Okpara decided that ORA activities must go on, albeit virtually. A virtual convention was held in place of the one planned for Houston Texas. The same scenario is playing out in 2021 as the pandemic recedes and normal activities begin to return but not fully enough for a physical convention.
Chief Tony Okpara’s administration brought remarkable growth in ORAUSA youths with the appointment of indefatigable Mrs. Ijeoma Eze-Adenka as the Youth Director. She immediately brought new energy into the Youth Department and generated renewed enthusiasm among the young ones often seen as future leaders of ORAUSA. The Youth Department successfully hosted a virtual convention in 2020 and an even bigger one in 2021 with interactive sessions of games, Q&A, and cultural education with adults/parents in attendance.
Under the Okpara administration, the ORAUSA website was revamped and modernized to better serve the needs of the diverse members. Also updated was the group email system, setting up a new one to replace the defunct yahoogroups email system.
Chief Okpara revived the ORAUSA history project and directed the ORANEWSFLASH Committee to update the existing history. That project is ongoing at this time.
Chief Okpara also pursued his vision of advocacy for good governance in Orlu zone in particular and Imo State in general. Through the vehicle of ORAPAC, Chief Okpara ensured that the voice of ORAUSA is heard on matters concerning citizens of Orlu and Imo State.
The administration of Chief Tony Okpara continued and strengthened homeland projects including free medical mission, Homeland Summit, Special Need’s Project, and Microfinance. The medical missions and Summits of 2017 to 2019 were the most attended in ORAUSA history due to the mass mobilization strategy of the administration working with traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the homeland. The Special Needs Project empowered ORA women led by the First Lady, Lolo Chinwe Okpara, to organize procurement and delivery of relief materials to Orlu Cheshire Home – the first in the history of ORAUSA.
The dream of acquiring landed property in the homeland came to fruition during the administration of Chief Tony Okpara. The land located in Orlu town was allocated during the Rochas Okorocha administration and validated during the Emeka Ihedioha tenure. Fencing work has commenced on the land and the Project Committee is now considering what project to develop on the land.
Under the administration of Chief Tony Okpara, ORAUSA membership grew in the number of affiliates and number of individual participants in ORA activities including national Conventions. One affiliate from California joined the ORA family in 2020 and another is gearing up to join at the 2021 virtual convention.
Overall, Okpara’s tenure as President of ORAUSA has been a successful one. Not even the global pandemic that claimed over 600,000 lives in the USA could stop ORAUSA from moving forward under his administration. It is now time for the next administration to receive the baton and continue the race. It is hoped that ORA will continue to excel as the trail-blazing diaspora organization growing from strength to strength for the benefit of Umu Orlu at home and in the diaspora.
Deacon Charles Anumudu
Emeritus National Secretary
Dr. Pauly Enwere
National Secretary
Postscript
Chief Okpara’s first term Executives
- President – Chief Tony Okpara
- Vice President – Dr. Uzo Unegbu
- General Secretary – Deacon Charles Anumudu re-elected
- Asst. General Secretary – Dr. Pauly Enwere
- Financial Secretary – Sir Ugochukwu Duru
- Asst. Financial Secretary – Dr. Chinyere Achi
- Treasurer – Sir Geoben Oleru re-elected
- Public Relation Officer – Chief Basil Ibenyenwa
- Parliamentarian – Chief Ifeanyi Ohazurike re-elected
- Legal Adviser – Atty Bernard Nwaiwu
Chief Okpara’s second term Executives
- President – Chief Tony Okpara re-elected
- Vice President – Dr. Uzo Unegbu re-elected
- General Secretary – Dr. Pauly Enwere
- Asst. General Secretary – Mr. Austin Ofoha
- Financial Secretary – Sir Ugochukwu Duru re-elected
- Asst. Financial Secretary – Dr. Chinyere Achi
- Treasurer – Mazi Emmanuel Orji
8. PRO – Chief Basil Ibenyenwa re-elected - Parliamentarian – Chief Chris Okala
- Legal Adviser – Atty Bernard Nwaiwu
