Aku Assembly had a long history behind it and its greatest and most enduring quality is that of resilience. Another of its admirable attribute has been its ability to perform, to implement various legislative, judicial, executive and socio-economic development of Aku. Before the colonial era it was called the OHA AKU, membership then was limited to lineage heads or their representatives. Its functions then were legislative and judicial. Executive functions were the responsibility of the appropriate age grade of young men who led in wars against neighboring clans and villages; who maintain internal peace and saw that the laws and proclamations of the OHA AKU were complied with. However British rule brought about the imposition of warrant Chiefs, the first of whom was chief UGWU MANU. Later chief UGWU ISIFE and chief ONODUAGU AMUKWORU were appointed so that by 1930 there were three chiefs in Aku. With the discrediting of warrant chief system in Eastern Nigeria, the OHA AKU was revived in 1944 under the of AKU TOWN COUNCIL with Mr. Joseph I. Amadi as the first town clerk. Each the 63 family or Otobos had one representatives usually the eldest or his nominee in the council.

The introduction of party politics in Nigeria is relatively young. The system of basing decisions on majority votes is also young. In the OHA AKU or the Aku Assembly, decisions are arrived at through consensus. An argument or debate is continued until every body agrees. This is psychologically more satisfying than arriving at decisions through voting. Party politics is a disagreement as to means not ends. All parties profess a commitment to improving the lives of the citizens. They only disagree as to ways and means of achieving this. It should not, therefore lead to personal enmities. But because it is relatively new and little understood by the vast majority of Nigerians, it has come to mean that somebody who is not in your party is a personal enemy. Political victimization and assassination of characters, for example, transferring people to distant towns as a punishment for their political opinions, is a sure way of creating personal enemies. Politics should be like a game of football. When you lose, you are sad but all the same you shake hands with the victor and hope for better tomorrow. If we are wise enough to learn from our forefathers we should note that the various OHA disputes did not prevent inter-family marriages between people in different camps nor did it disrupt friendship within and amongst the various groups. Our fathers and grandfathers recognized the disputes as political not social. Local leaders of the various political parties in Aku today should give the example in this regard. There is no doubt that their followers would follow their footsteps. It is unforgivable, if through error of omission or commission, they sow the seed of hatred antagonism and suspicion among a people who live so close together that they cannot be their brother’s keepers