Engr. Hyacinth Iheanacho, President Pillar of Associations, Rivers State.
The umbrella body of Traders’ Union in Rivers State; Pillar of Associations Rivers State, has elected and inaugurated a new executive to run its affairs in the next four years.
The events took place at Orogbum Civic Centre, Ogbumnuabali, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital on July 4th and 5th September, 2024 respectively, under the observation of members of Board of Trustees, and witnessed by eligible voters, members of the associations and the general public.
The election saw the emergence of Engr. Hyacinth Iheanacho, as President, Roselyn Obulunu, 1st vice President, and Eze Elect, Maxwell Ekeh JP, as 2nd vice President.
In his acceptance speech, Engr. Hyacinth Iheanacho thanked members for the opportunity given to them to serve; and promised to uphold the tenants of the associations.
“We are going to ensure that we continue to provide and to protect the things needed to run this body. All our members are not here today but each and everyone of us here is representing a union.
“I believe that with the opportunity you people have given to us; each of your units, by the help of God, and by the grace of God, shall be protected to ensure that we are not intimidated, to ensure we pay our dues according to the way the government of the day wants it.
“And we do not allow unnecessary or illegal taxation or extortion from our members.
“We have promised we are going to do that and we need your support and encouragement.”
Also addressing members, the Board of Trustees chairman, Alhaji Adedeji who spoke on behalf of BoT, extolled the leadership prowess of the election executive, and pleaded for members continued support to them.
“God will lead the newly elected executive. I give kudos to the President Engr. Iheanacho and his executive. They were the past executive, they did well. I can testify that they did well. If they didn’t do well, we would not have returned them as the executive again.
“I equally thank all the members of Pillar of Associations for the unity, the love and support we have given to the President and his executive in the past. I wish you to give same support, love and unity to the present executive, because there is no head without people backing them”.
Comrade Eze John, Public Relations Officer of Iron Rod Dealers Association Kala Branch Rumokwuta Port Harcourt, who spoke on behalf of affiliate unions of Pillar of Associations Rivers State said “Engr. Iheanacho as the President took Pillar of Associations Rivers State to greater heights.
He defended the associations, saying saying “we’re are happy reelecting him and his executive to continue for the next tenure.
“Today you can see that all of us here are happy because they have just been inaugurated everybody in the hall is happy because they did well, we have been supporting him and we shall continue to support him because he is doing well”.
Other elected officers were Chief Amaju Nnamdi, Secretary General, Mr. Egbunu Uchenna, Assistant Secretary General, Mrs. Nneka Enendu, Financial Secretary, Elder Dike Chinedu, Treasurer.
Pastor Peace Atoye, was elected Public Relations Officer, while Mrs Ola Oladimeji and Mr. Justice Nwokeocha were elected Welfare Officer and Provost respectively.
Pillar of Associations is the assemblage of various traders’ unions in Rivers state under one umbrella as an association.
Their primary concern is to create a balance between the government and her members; first to make sure none of her members evade government levies and taxations, second to protect her members from illegal levies and taxations, and from the harassment from touts and hoodlums that go about collecting revenues for themselves, and not for the government.
