ASATU boss speaks on Metchie’s appointment as ‘prime minister’
Titus Nnabuike Akpudo and Johnny Chukwudi Metchie
National President of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Chief Titus Nnabuike Akpudo, has spoken on appointment of President-General (PG) of Umueri General Assembly, Chief Johnny Chukwudi Metchie, as Prime Minister (Onowu).
Metchie, who doubles as African Director, International Association for Peace Advocates, was inaugurated following his endorsement by 179 PGs, representing all communities in the state.
The event took place in Awka, with Governor Chukwuma Soludo, ably represented by his deputy.
In a statement, Akpudo, who is also National Vice President, Southeast Association of Town Unions, said the selection process was painstaking.
He described Metchie as an outstanding personality that has turned around the fortunes of Umueri community leveraging his wide connections.
His words: “We appointed Chief Metchie as ASATU Prime Minister because he deserved it. He has demonstrated exemplary leadership and unprecedented development to Umueri, the kind we have not seen before in the community. He has also assisted ASATU in many ways. And this is just for the few months he has been in office.
“Apart from his philanthropist gestures and ingenuity, Chief Metchie has proved himself to be a motivator.
“For example, we were waiting for government on community policing, but Metchie moved on to install CCTV to cover the entire Umueri community, which has made the area very secure and almost crime-free. We considered that alone as an outstanding achievement, in view of the precarious security situation in the country.
“He assisted his people in upgrading health facilities and attracting so much attention that the state government had just approved the renovation of Umueri General Hospital, among two others.
“Metchie has constructed roads in some villages in the community, he is constructing a new market and carrying out weekly sanitation, giving scholarship to indigent members, and has secured health insurance cards for the elderly in Umueri.”
On his part, Metchie who holds titles of Ezi of Umueri and Ozoigbondu, lauded ASATU leadership for finding him worthy of the position.
He said: “I am humbled by the recognition considering that I am just seven months in office as President General of Umueri General Assembly. It is a rare privilege that the entire members of this association, made up of great leaders, could consider me for the honour, the first person to be so recognised.”
