Commissioner intervenes in Abia-NASSI crisis

Leadership crisis that engulfed the Abia State chapter of the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) has been resolved by the state government.

The chapter, which prides itself as the most vibrant in the country, became polarised following the impeachment of Humphrey Nweze, the immediate past chairman of the association and his entire cabinet, due to what members termed “acts of impunity and disregard for peoples’ will.”

The misunderstanding, which lasted for a year and culminated into litigation, has however been resolved by Henry Ikoh, the state commissioner for industry, science and technology.

The commissioner, who was impressed by the commitment of the two parties to end the crisis, urged them to work harmoniously for the good of the state.

He reiterated the commitment of the State Government to provide enabling environment for business to thrive in the state, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises, which according to him, holds key to the economic development of the state.
He advised the new executive to work as a team to ensure a steady economy for the state, especially at these hard times.

“You have to put behind, all that transpired in the past, and look forward to a better future for the association, the State and the country”.

Ezechukwu Abel Ogbonna, Abia-NASSI chairman, commended the commissioner for his efforts at ending the crisis, which according to him, looked extremely difficult to settle.

He acknowledged the ministry’s timely intervention in the matter and thanked Humphrey Nweze, his predecessor for accepting to end the misunderstanding, through dialogue and prayed that the problem that led to the misunderstanding should not occur again.

Nweze, who expressed displeasure over the sacking of his executive, warned that members should not allow, what he called, “unconstitutional attitude” to occur any longer, if they want Abia NASSI to be alive, both in the State and at the national level.
According to him, “Let Abia NASSI not be parochial and clannish. This abrupt removal of a duly elected executive has set the chapter that used to occupy first position in Nigeria many years behind, he observed”.

Chukwuma Ogbonna, special adviser to the National President, NASSI, who represented his boss at the meeting, stated that the crisis deprived the chapter some programmes, and applauded Ikoh, for his intervention.