By Asuquo Cletus
Chief Emeka Egwuonwu, a seasoned businessman and politician, has emerged as the new President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Cross River State.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the apex socio-cultural body representing the interest of the Igbo people across Nigeria and in the diaspora .
Egwuonwu was elected over the weekend during a peaceful delegate election held in Ikom Local Government Area. His emergence has been described as a new dawn for the Igbo socio-cultural group in the state.
In his acceptance speech, Egwuonwu pledged to reposition Ohanaeze Ndigbo for greater relevance and political participation, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is indeed a new dawn for Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Cross River. We will no longer play armchair politics. We’ll be fully and actively involved from now on,” he said.
He promised inclusive leadership and reiterated his commitment to advancing the interests of Igbos in the state and beyond.
“Even before now, I’ve worked with government because there’s little one can achieve without collaboration. As President, I’ll carry everyone along. It will no longer be business as usual,” he stated.
Egwuonwu, who will serve a four-year tenure, said his leadership would focus on unity, empowerment, and sustained engagement with government and stakeholders.
Governor Bassey Otu, represented by his Special Adviser on Non-Indigene Affairs, Mazi Okey Maduekwe, commended the peaceful conduct of the election and congratulated Egwuonwu on his victory.
Otu assured the Igbo community of continued inclusion in governance, noting that his administration has maintained equity among all residents.
“No one is treated differently in Cross River. The Igbos have been supportive of my government, and I will continue to support them. Their contributions to our economy are visible, and more are coming to invest because of our enabling environment,” the governor said.
Also speaking, Ezeigbo Cross River State, Eze Emmanuel Ezewenyi, represented by Onowu Ndigbo, Chief Livinus Ihezie, appealed for unity and urged all contestants and members to support the new leadership.
“Let us ensure a peaceful transition and support whoever emerges. Leadership is a responsibility that must be shared,” he said.
The election, conducted via a delegate system, involved representatives from 15 Ohanaeze chapters across the 18 local government areas of the state. Each chapter presented five delegates, while Calabar, due to its size, had eight.
It was gathered that no fewer than one million Igbos residing in Cross River were directly or indirectly involved in the process.
Egwuonwu’s emergence is expected to usher in a more politically active and development-focused era for the Igbo community in the state.
