By EHIGIMETOR IGBAUGBA

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Cross River chapter has pledged to henceforth be actively involved in national politics, with a view to ensuring that its people reap the dividends of democracy.

The group made the pledge in Ikom Local Government Area on Sunday, following the successful conduct of elections to elect new leaders to pilot it’s affairs in the next four years.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chapter President, Chief Chukwuemeka Egwuonwu said that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation would fully participate in deciding who governs them come 2027.

According to him, this is indeed a new dawn in Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Cross River. We will no longer play armchair politics whether in the state or national level; we will be fully and actively involved starting from the 2027 general elections.

Egwuonwu also said that his emergence as the new president would lead to greater achievements by the chapter, adding that he would discharge his duties without fear or favour.

“It is not going to be business as usual, because I have the capacity and I am going to try to pilot the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Cross River with all I have in me.

“Even before being elected, I have been working with the government because there is nothing you can do in this part of the world without the government.

“As a team player, I promise to carry everybody along to ensure that we achieve great success as we forge ahead,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Bassey Otu, has commended the process that led to the emergence of the new executives of the chapter.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Non-Indigene Affairs, Chief Okey Maduekwe, Otu, said that all residents in the state irrespective of tribe or religion had been treated equally by his administration.

He noted that his “people first mantra” had impacted on the lives of everyone in the state.

The governor added that provision of infrastructure and security for businesses to thrive would continue to be a priority of his administration.

“You can see that the Igbos are happy here in Cross River, and as I have supported them, they have also been very supportive of my government.

“We have a very large population of the Igbos with investment in various segments of the economy.

“I have gotten assurances that more are coming to invest in Cross River because of the conducive environment and the way we have related with them as part of us,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that before the commencement of the election, Ezeigbo Cross River, Mr Emmanuel Ezenwenyi had appealed for a free and fair election.

Ezenwenyi, who was represented by Onowu Ndigbo, Chief Livinus Ihezie, also pleaded that whoever emerged as the new president should be supported to bear the burden of the people.

“I am happy that the governor is here to witness this exercise, and it is my sincere prayer that we will conduct ourselves in an orderly manner for a hitch-free election,” he had said.

The election was conducted using the delegates system from the 15 chapters of Ohanaeze Ndigbo across the 18 Council areas of Cross River. (NAN)