By: Joe Ephraim, Calabar
The Igbo Community in Calabar, Cross River State, has elected Chief (Sir) Kenneth Okpalaeke as its new president, with stakeholders calling for unity, peaceful coexistence and stronger collaboration with the Cross River State Government.
The election, held recently in Calabar, was widely described by community leaders as peaceful, transparent and credible.
Speaking after the exercise, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Cross River State Chapter, High Chief Chukwuemeka Egwuonwu, commended members of the community for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the election.
He said the emergence of the new leadership reflected the unity of the Igbo community in the state and urged the newly elected president to see leadership as a call to selfless service
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“Leadership is all about service. The new president should continue to promote unity among the Igbos and sustain the peaceful atmosphere we have built over the years,” he said.
Egwuonwu also reiterated Ohanaeze’s commitment to maintaining cordial relations with the Cross River State Government, noting that the organisation remained non-political but would continue to support initiatives that promote the welfare of Igbos residing in the state.
Also speaking, a member of the Igbo Council of Chiefs, Chief Sir Livinus Ihezie, described the poll as the most peaceful election conducted by the community.
He commended the electoral committee for ensuring a transparent process and urged the new officers to preserve the unity inherited from previous administrations.
According to him, one of the major priorities of the new leadership should be pursuing the construction of a permanent Igbo Community Hall in Calabar.
He appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to facilitate the restoration of land previously allocated to the Igbo community to enable the project to become a reality.
“We need a befitting Igbo Community Hall that will serve as a permanent home for our people in Cross River State,” he said.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Non-Indigenous Affairs, Mazi Okey Maduekwe, also hailed the peaceful conduct of the election, attributing it to the prevailing atmosphere of peace in the state.
He said the emergence of younger leaders would reposition the Igbo community for greater progress while strengthening the existing relationship between the community and the host state.
He urged the new executive to sustain the peaceful disposition of the outgoing administration and continue supporting the developmental agenda of Governor Otu.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected president, Chief Sir Kenneth Okpalaeke, pledged to prioritise unity, self-reliance and community development during his tenure.
Okpalaeke said the community would mobilise members to fund development projects through voluntary contributions rather than relying solely on external support.
He identified the construction of a permanent Igbo Community Hall as one of the administration’s key projects, saying the facility would provide a lasting identity for Igbos living in Cross River State.
He also promised to establish welfare programmes for elderly and vulnerable members of the community.
“We have to work together as one family. If we unite and contribute what we can, we can achieve any project we desire. We must also care for our elderly and those who are less privileged among us,” he said.
Reflecting on his previous role in the outgoing administration, Okpalaeke said the immediate past leadership had succeeded in restoring peace within the community after years of internal disagreements.
He pledged to consolidate on that foundation by pursuing projects that would further strengthen the unity and welfare of Igbos in Cross River State.
He also urged members to remain law-abiding and continue contributing positively to the economic and social development of their host communities.
