Arondizuogu Patriotic Union

Last updated

Arondizuogu Patriotic Union (APU) is the umbrella organisation of all Arondizuogu communities in Nigeria and the Diaspora. Established in 1932 in Aba, APU is one of the earliest and most enduring organs of community development set up by an Igbo clan in colonial Nigeria. The youngmen of Arondizuogu who laid the foundation for APU left their homes for the first time in the 1920s and early 1930s to seek a better life in the emerging urban centres of colonial Nigeria. They found themselves in social, economic and political environments different from the life they knew at home. Refusing to be intimated or alienated, they held on to that deep feeling of love for the community with which they grew up. They assembled at Aba on October 8, 1932, to aggregate ideas on how best to convey the concomitants of modern development with which they were surrounded in the city (such as wide roads, schools, hospitals, post offices, potable water, electricity, court rooms, etc.) to their village community.

Objectives

The objectives of APU since 1932 have since expanded to include the changing concerns of its massive membership spread around the world. Over the years, APU, at the national level, has been led by a succession of twelve Presidents General: Rev Chima Nwana who served from 1933 to 1947 with a succession of secretaries that included John Okereke, Louis Nwakire Obioha and Egboo Nwankwo; Mazi David O. Mbadiwe (who had served as the President pro tempore of the Oct. 1932 inaugural convention) and was elected to serve as APU President from 1947 to 1949 when the National College dispute created an impasse between Ndianiche (from where the president hailed) and APU; Mazi Albert Nwosu Igbo "Ogbuanukwu" from Ndiukwu who was appointed to serve as President of APU from 1950 to 1953; and Mazi D.T. Okoro took over as APU President and served from 1953 to Jan 15 1966 when all ethnic unions were proscribed by military decree. Between 1966 and 1974 APU was in limbo. However, the leadership role of APU during this interregnum was carried out by other organisations. First, (between 1967 and 1970) by the Arondizuogu War Emergency Council, one of the impromptu bodies formed in various clans at the instance of the authorities of the short-lived Republic of Biafra. Second, (between 1971 and 1974) by the 1st Arondizuogu Community Council set up in consequence of the Divisional Administration Edict passed ion 1971 by the Government of the old East Central State. Mazi R.O. Ikoro served as chairman of both the Arondizuogu War Emergency Council and the Arondizuogu Community Council.

Present

After the Nigerian Civil War, Mazi Ben Ozonede Onwuka became the Union’s President following the resuscitation of APU in 1974 and served till 1976; Mazi Remy Nwafor Unegbu who was nicknamed the "Perfect Peacemaker" served as President - General of APU from 1976 till he died in office in 1981, Mazi Reuben O. Egbuonu, who served under Unegbu as 1st Vice President, succeeded him and served as President till 1984 when he lost the APU Presidency to an Aba based business mogul Chief Clement Moore Obioha who was succeeded in 1991 by Dr. Chukwuma Nkemdi Obioha. In 1993, Chief Joel West Umeh took over from Chukwuma Obioha and served as President till 1996; Chief L. Iheanyi Okoro took over in 1996 and served first as Chairman of a Caretaker Committee of the National Executive of APU and, later, as President General by acclamation; and Mazi Oguguo Okereke served as President General of the union between 2000 and 2008. Hon. Barr. Uche Ohia from Ndiakeme Ohiauchu who was elected on October 25, 2008, served as President - General till October 20, 2012, when Chief Chris Robins Okoro, the current President - General of APU was elected

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Igbo people</span> Ethnic group in Southern Nigeria

The Igbo people are an ethnic group in Nigeria. They are primarily found in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. Ethnic Igbo populations are found in Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, as migrants as well as outside Africa. There has been much speculation about the origins of the Igbo people, which are largely unknown. The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.

Arochukwu Local Government Area, sometimes referred to as Arochuku or Aro Oke-Igbo, is the third largest local government area in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbo subgroup, Aro people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nnewi</span> City in Anambra State, Nigeria

Nnewi is a commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is the second largest city in Anambra state after Onitsha. Nnewi as a metropolitan area has two local government area, which are Nnewi North and Nnewi South, all centred around the Nnewi town. Even Ekwusigo local government area is now part of Nnewi urban area, as urbanization continues to spread from Nnewi to neighbouring communities. The Nnewi town which is the only town in Nnewi North, comprises four villages: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi. Nnewi had been the centre of economics and commerce, being at a time the fastest growing industrial city east of the Niger, being the home of many industries such as The Ibeto Group, the Chicason Group, Cutix Cables, amongst others. The first indigenous car manufacturing plant in Nigeria is located in the city while the first wholly Made-in-Nigeria motorcycle, the 'NASENI M1' was manufactured in Nnewi.

Arondizuogu (Aro-ndizuogu) is a town inhabited by the Aro people, an Igbo subgroup in Imo State of Nigeria. The Arondizuogu community is believed to have migrated from Arochukwu in the present Abia State to their current settlements in Imo State, which include the Okigwe, Ideato North and Onuimo local governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Igboland</span> Cultural region in Nigeria

Igboland, also known as Southeastern Nigeria, is the indigenous homeland of the Igbo people. It is a cultural and common linguistic region in southern Nigeria. Geographically, it is divided into two sections by the lower Niger River: an eastern and a western one. Its population is characterised by the diverse Igbo culture and the speakers of equally diverse Igbo languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aro Confederacy</span> Former country in present southeastern Nigeria

The Aro Confederacy (1640–1902) was a political union orchestrated by the Aro people, an Igbo subgroup, centered in Arochukwu in present-day southeastern Nigeria. The Aro Confederacy kingdom was founded after the beginning of the Aro-Ibibio Wars. Their influence and presence was all over Eastern Nigeria, lower Middle Belt, and parts of present-day Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Arochukwu Kingdom was an economic, political, and an oracular center as it was home of the Ibini Ukpabi oracle, High Priests, the Aro King Eze Aro, and central council (Okpankpo). The Aro Confederacy was a powerful and influential political and economic alliance of various Igbo-speaking communities in southeastern Nigeria. It emerged during the 17th century and played a significant role in the region until the late 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chukwuma Nzeogwu</span> Nigerian military officer and revolutionary

Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Chukwuma "Kaduna" Nzeogwu was a Nigerian military officer who played a leading role in the 1966 Nigerian coup d'état, which overthrew the First Nigerian Republic.

Aro History starts from Ibibio migration to the present Arochukwu area.

Alayi Igboji-Akuru Community is a suburban town in the Bende local government area of Abia State, Nigeria. The Community consisted of four main clans of Akoliufu, Amankalu, Ugwueke and Ezeukwu. Alayi is one of the communities that make up Umunnato all in Bende LGC. It is about 100 kilometres (60 mi) from Aba, a commercial city of Eastern Nigeria, approximately 100 km (60 mi) from Owerri Airport, 32 km (20 mi) from Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State, 13 km (8 mi) from Uzuakoli, 11 km (7 mi) to Abiriba and 24 km (15 mi) to Ohafia. Alayi is divided into two sections, Akoliufu and Amankalu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Njoku</span> Nigerian politician

Raymond Amanze Njoku was a Nigerian politician and former minister for Transport. The son of an Igbo Chief, he was born in Owerri and raised in a Roman Catholic household. He attended Our Lady's School at Emekuku, for primary education. Later on, at St Charles, college, Onitsha, where he was studying, he applied and won a scholarship that earned him an admission into a teachers training school. After brief stints at tutorship in various schools including St Gregory's College, Lagos and St Charles, Onitsha, he decided to change course and study law. After completing his Law studies at Cambridge: LLB Hons Peterhouse College Cambridge, England; he was called to the bar at Inner Temple.

Igbere is a suburban town in Bende local government area of Abia State of the South-Eastern geopolitical region Nigeria. Also popularly known and referred to as the Igbere Ebiri, the town is the core "part of Old-Bende Division of the former Eastern Nigeria". The people of Igbere, relating to, or characteristic of Igbere or its inhabitants and heritage are called Igberian.

Ikwuano is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in Isiala Oboro. The name 'Ikwuano' etymologically indicates that there are four different ancient kingdoms that make up the community called Ikwuano. These include Oboro, Ibere, Ariam/Usaka and Oloko.

Osisioma Ngwa is a Local Government Area of Abia state of Nigeria. Its headquarters are located in Osisioma town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ọhanaeze Ndigbo</span> Socio-cultural group in Nigeria

Ọhanaeze Ndigbo is an Igbo socio-cultural organization in Nigeria. The group aims to represent the interests of all Igbo communities within and outside Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umuleri</span> Place in Anambra, Nigeria

Umueri, also known and pronounced as Umuleri, is a town in Anambra State of southeastern Nigeria. The settlement is populated primarily Igbo, and has an estimated population of 1,500,000. The forebears are widely acknowledged as the first settler in Omambala valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaku Town</span> Place in Anambra State, Nigeria

Anaku is one of the administrative divisions of Anambra State, South-Eastern Nigeria. The town lies 6°15' North of the Equator and 6°44' East of the Greenwich Meridian. It is bordered by "Omabala," the native name of the Anambra River, which is a tributary of the River Niger (North), Aguleri, Ezu River (South), Omor and Umuerum communities (East).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elechukwu Njaka</span> Nigerian political scientist (1921–1975)

Mazi Elechukwu Nnadibuagha Njaka was a Nigerian political scientist, known for the book Igbo Political Culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ikeji festival</span> Festival observed annually by the Igbo people of Nigeria

The Ikeji festival is an annual four-day festival held by the Igbo people of Arondizuogu, in Imo state, Nigeria, between the months of March and April to celebrate the harvest of new yams and the Igbo culture. It is arguably the largest masquerade parade in West Africa. The inception of the Ikeji festival dates back five centuries and is an Igbo festival which unites all Igbo race across the globe as they return to the south-eastern regions of Nigeria to witness and partake in the festival. The festival is marked with the display of numerous masquerades dancing around the villages, music, and practice of the Igbo traditional religion.

Rosemary Inyama was a Nigerian Igbo educator, politician, businesswoman and community developer.


Ugwueme is a town in Awgu local government in Enugu State, southeastern Nigeria. It is located at Latitude 6°01’02.5″N and Longitude 7°26’21.0″E, which is approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of the town of Awgu, the local government headquarters. Ugwueme is bordered in the north by Nnenwenta, on the east by Awgu town, and on the south by Lokpanta. It shares its western border with Isuochi.