Raheem Ibrahim l Friday, January 03, 2019
ILORIN, Kwara, Nigeria – The newly-elected National President and other members of the National Executive Council of the umbrella socio-cultural organisation of the people of Ilorin Emirate, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) has been inaugurated.
Performing the swearing-in ceremony at the union’s secretariat on Saturday (December 28,2019), a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Provost, College of Law, Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kannike charged the newly-elected leaders of the union to work for the progress and development of Ilorin Emirate.
In a statement issued by IEDPU National Pubilicity Secretary, Abubakar Imam, Prof. Amuda Kannike advised them to always be guided by the constitution of the union in all their official activities.
After the ceremony, all the new EXCO took their oath of office. The new National President of the union, Alhaji Otta Aliyu Usman,thanked members, particularly delegates to the 54th National conference for finding him and his colleagues worthy of being elected to serve in the next two years.
He assured members that the new EXCO would work assiduously towards improving the image and financial base of IEDPU so that she can regain her respectability among stakeholders and the much-needed financial independence.
Alhaji Usman said that he and other members of the executive are not in office for what they would gain but for the services they would offer towards the progress and development of the union and the Ilorin Emirate at large.
Alhaji Usman,who is a retired director of the Department of State Services, appealed to members to forget and forgive whatever misgivings they may have against one another.
He declared that the electioneering processes had come and gone and that members from far and near should continue to see one another as brothers, saying that without peace and unity, there would be no progress and development. He hinted of the possibility of constitutional amendment to ensure that the body of rules and regulations with which the union would be operated respond to contemporary development and challenges.
Alhaji Usman also thanked his immediate predecessor and former Ag.National President of the union, Alhaji Y.O.Ahmed and his team for all they achieved during their tenure. He urged them to ensure that the financial records of the union were put in proper shape so that he and his team would know what needed to be done. He also paid glowing tributes to all the founding fathers of the union for their foresight.
He was particularly grateful to all the past national presidents and those who worked with them for their stimulating sacrifices and contributions, which made the union what she is today.
Speaking earlier, a member of the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee, Alhaji Yinusa Kobebije, formally declared the winners of each of the contested positions as each of the newly-elected official stood-up for recognition to the applause of members who graced the ceremony.
In his own remarks, the former national president, Alhaji Y. O. Ahmed, thanked members for the privilege he was given to serve the union and the community in the last one year. He enjoined them to cooperate fully with the new national president and his team so that they can keep the flag of the union flying.
The event, which could not hold at the venue of the election due to the fact that the processes were completed late in the early hours of the following day of the election, was witnessed by members of IEDPU from far and near and some friends and relations of the new president and other elected officials.
