by Ebuka Onyekwelu
Several communities in Anambra state are on the verge of crisis because of continued leadership of town union after expiration of the term of office of many Presidents’ General in Anambra State. In many of these communities, the caretaker system alien to the communities have been imposed as a way to maintain the status quo in flagrant violation of the towns’ constitution and this we gathered is brewing bad blood that may degenerate any moment into crisis, in the affected communities.

This development further extends to the Chief Alex Onukwue led Executive whose tenure as National President of Anambra State Association of Town Union – ASATU – which is the umbrella association of town unions in Anambra state, has since 27th May 2020 expired.

“In ASATU, out of the twenty-eight Executive Members, not up to eight are active President-General in their respective towns. Over 90% of ASATU executive members as of today, are not even PGs of their town union because their tenures have elapsed, but they are still in ASATU as leaders”, said a concerned PG who do not want to be mentioned. It is not clear if the governor is aware of these developments.
The genesis of this anomaly was blamed largely on the novel pandemic which resulted to the postponement of scheduled ASATU election, including the women and youth wings and some town union elections, which then unavoidably Sin the inevitable illegal overstay in office by many PGs and some now introducing caretaker which in most places have resulted to the town union not being able to function, much so that they are not able to hold meetings simply because the people are against the leadership.

SOURCE: https://www.anaedoonline.ng/2020/08/11/crisis-looms-in-anambra-communities-over-town-union-leadership-and-in-asatu-over-tenure-elongation/