Cross River: Business Mogul, Egwuonwu, Emerges New Ohanaeze President, Promises Inclusive Government
Ndifereke BASSEY
A business Mogul and former Aide to Governor Obiano of Anambra state, Chief Emeka Egwuonwu, has emerged as the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in Cross River State.
Egwuonwu emerged after the delegates' election held by elections held by the Igbo socio-cultural group at Ikom at the weekend. The new President will serve for a four-year tenure.
The election was attended by over 90 delegates across the 18 local government areas of the state, members of Ime Obi, Igbo community leaders, Okenwas, and critical stakeholders of Igbo extraction.
Speaking after his election, Egwuonwu said henceforth, the group will be actively involved in national politics as part of efforts to ensuring its people reap the dividends of good governance.
He said: “Yes, this is indeed a new dawn in Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Cross River, we will no longer play armchair politics from the state to the national level.
"We will be fully and actively involved starting from the 2027 national elections. We will see to the achievement of greater things for the group. We would discharge his duty without fear or favour.
“It is not going to be business as usual because I have the capacity, and I am going to pilot the affairs of Ọhanaeze Ndigbo in Cross River with all I have in me.
“Yes, even without being elected, I have been working with the government because there is nothing you would do, especially in this part of the world, without government.
"As a team player, I promise to carry everybody along to ensure that we achieve great success as we forge ahead.
"It is no longer going to be business as usual as we are determined to make a difference by advancing Igbo people in every sphere both at home and in the diaspora.”
Applauding the new President, the State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, admitted that the people have freely chosen who to lead them rightly.
Governor Otu, represented by his Special Adviser on Non-Indigene Affairs, Mazi Okey Maduekwe, argued that irrespective of ethnicity, no one has been treated more than the other in the state.
According to him, the “People’s First” mantra has impacted on lives of everyone in the state, adding that provision of infrastructure and security for businesses to thrive will continue to be a priority of his administration.
