Driven by patriotic zeal for his country, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, outgoing President, Nigerian Union in South Africa, has urged members to rededicate themselves to serving Nigerians and Nigeria.
Anyene said in Durban, Kwazulu Natal Province of South Africa on Saturday at the union’s annual congress that the welfare of Nigerians living in South Africa was imperative.
“We inherited a union that was already `down’ but we set to work despite the challenges. We remained faithful in serving Nigerians,” he said.
Anyene said that his executive committee raised the profile of the union by inaugurating similar bodies at the wards and provinces in South Africa.
He, however, said the struggle for the promotion of the welfare and interest of Nigerians in the country should be a collective one.
According to Anyene, if there are disagreements, we should remain united and resolve such differences and move forward.
He said there were attempts by some “ retrogressive forces” to “buy him over” in a bid to scuttle or weaken the union.
“ My executive committee remained resolute and also maintained our integrity. We realised that the welfare of our brothers and sisters is very important. They needed our services and it will be unfair to disappoint them.”
Anyene urged the members to support the incoming executive committee to enable them to serve Nigerians with greater fillip.
“ Our achievements were accomplished by team work from the wards to the provinces and I believe that we can achieve same results collectively with the new executive,” the Nigerian Union boss said.
He recalled that no member was either threatened with death or blackmailed during their tenure.
NAN also reports that the union which is an umbrella body for Nigerians in South Africa had launched campaigns against drugs, human trafficking and prostitution.
It is also in the vanguard against extra-judicial killing of Nigerians in the country.