Peace returns to UNN ALUMNI as Iwuanyanwu reconciles warring factions

The Alumni had been embroiled in leadership crisis as the two factions claim legitimacy with the effect that members become polarized along factional lines.

Addressing members of the Alumni, weekend, at Nicon Luxury Hotel during a meeting convened by the Reconciliation Committee headed Engr (Dr) Johnny Chukwu, a retired permanent secretary, Chief Iwuanyanwu said the leadership imbroglio has diminished the stature of the Alumni and by extension, the nation’s first Indigenous University, UNN.

He said, “the University of Nigeria has a pride of place nationally and globally and thus, deserved to be maintained thus. The crisis in the Alumni Association has contributed immensely towards destabilising the progress of the university in general and brought it low in the general university ranking.”

He observed that the Alumni was supposed to play pivotal role in the development and Progress of the  premier University and regretted that the crisis has in no small measure distracted body from that goal.

According to the communique issued at the end of over 7 hours meeting, the meeting deliberated extensively on the remote and immediate causes of the lingering crisis, took comments from the principal parties, representative members from both factions, x-rayed dimensions of the problems including the electoral crisis. The roles of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria and the interim management committee that gave rise to both elections that brought in Sir Ben Okoronkwo and Chief (Mrs) Linda Onyenkwelu into office.

After a lengthy deliberation by parties and elders of the Alumni, the two factions resolved to sheath their swords, with Chief (Mrs) Linda Onyenkwelu, leader of one of the factions resigning honorably, while other faction led by Sir Ben Okoronkwo declared its readiness to stay out its tenure which ends on December 31, 2021.

Chief Iwuanyanwu commended Mrs Onyekwelu for her humility as the Alumni declared that the crisis was over.

The reconciliation meeting which had many distinguished Nigerians in attendance also resolved to carry out a thorough review of the constitution of ALUMNI to create role for its BOT/ Distinguished ALOHAS, set up Electoral committee first week of December, and convene it convention.

The meeting also appreciated the patriotic commitments of Engr. (Chief) Emmanuel Iwuanyawu and Engr. Johnny Chukwu Chairman Reconciliation Committee in the resolution of the crisis.

Antendees include Barr. Lawrence Alobi former Commissioner of Police, FCT, Prof. F. C Chilaka, Engr. Nehbolisa Emodi, Ugochukwu A, Okoroafer, Amb. Kema Chikwe, Ezenia Nnamdi Ekweogwu and Prof. Chudi Uwazurike amongst other 32 other distinguished members.