The “purportedly dissolved” members of the Caretaker
Committee of Uyo Local Branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Akwa Ibom
State, has sent a letter through their Solicitors, Barr. A.E. Akpanumo to the
State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners that they be re-instated seven
days from August 22, 2012 or else “action to seek judicial redress” would be
the alternative.
Akpanumo who is of the Grandpa Chambers in Uyo had described
the action of the State Chairman of N.U.P., Akwa Ibom State Branch, Obong
Cletus Thomas Uko as lacking “any lawful justification” despite what he called the
“exceptionally brilliant performance in office to the satisfaction of all and
sundry” by the purportedly dissolved Caretaker Committee.
He said that to the “dismay of all and sundry” the Obong
Cletus’ executive “refused to pay to them the 2012 second quarter allocation
which became due since 30th June 2012, despite repeated demands”.
Holding that as a “statutory body” which running and
operation he said were laid down and not run “by the whims and caprices of
anybody or functionary”, Akpanumo stated that “Rule 13(Vii)(b) of the N.U.P.
Constitution and Code of Conduct 2008 provides that a Caretaker Committee shall
run the affairs of the Union until fresh elections are held”.
He argued that since elections were not held and their “Appointment
Letters” did not indicate same, the Caretaker Committee was to be regulated by
the “Supreme Law or Regulation of the Union”, adding that “any other rule or
anything done which is not in consonance with the Constitution is thus null and
void” as noted in Rule 5(Vii) of the said Constitution.
He argued further that since the “purported dissolution was
blatantly done without regard to the provisions of the said Constitution and
due process of law” it was “arbitrary, unconstitutional, wrongful, null and
void and of no effect whatsoever”, adding that the said Caretaker Committee of
Uyo Branch of Nigeria Union of Pensioners(N.U.P.) made up of Comrade G. E.
Samuel(Trustee); Comrade Bassey T. Atai(Treasurer); Comrade (Mrs) Umo W.
Idem(Secretary); Comrade B.E. Inyang(Auditor) and Comrade S.E.Akpan(Member) was
still “legitimate” Caretaker Committee of Uyo local Branch of N.U.P., “and so shall they remain until fresh
elections are held”.
He instructed, through the said letter, that the state body
of N.U.P. should rescind any action, directives or correspondence including a
letter dated August 16, 2012 Ref. NUP/AKS/UB/VOL.1/107 believed to have been
purportedly done in connection with the said “dissolution”.
He advised that rescinding the action be done “urgently in
order to set things aright in the interest of peace and harmony in the
Union”. The letter, made available to Weekend Insght requested the State body of N.U.P. to pay Uyo local Branch Caretaker
Committee their 2012 Second Quarter Allocation said to have been overdue.
The said letter was copied to the “National
President/Political Head, Nigeria Union of Prisoner(sic), National
Headquarters, Plot No. 5 Makeni Street, Wuse Zone 6, Garki, Abuja” and the five
members of the purportedly dissolved Uyo local Branch of the N.U.P.
Weekend
Insight can authoritatively report that a local tabloid (NewsLink Newspaper of Friday August 17,
2012 on page four) under the headline, “Uyo branch of Nigeria Union of
Pensioners dissolved” reported that Obong Cletus Thompson Uko, the state
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Akwa Ibom State, who presided over
the Council’s meeting had called for a motion moved by the Secretary of Nsit
Ibom, seconded by the Chairman of Onna branches of the N.U.P. which led to the
dissolution of Uyo branch of the Union’s Caretaker Committee. The reason advanced in that report was that
the Constitution has stated that the Caretaker Committee tenure was between 3
and 6 months.
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