BY NIM Correspondent
Mr . Godwin Oji has emerged President General of Igbodo Development Union (IDU), in Igbodo Community, Ika North- East Local Government Area of Delta State.
Mr Oji and members of his executive were elected on Saturday to oversee the affairs of the community.
The election was the highlight of the Igbodo Annual Conference 2024, convened by the traditional ruler of Igbodo, Obi Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume I, the Ikukuoma of Igbodo Kingdom.
According to reports, the absence of an executive had led to certain issues in the community, hence the keenly contested poll spearheaded by an electoral committee constituted by the Obi-in-Council during the conference.
Delegates to the conference were drawn from branches of Igbodo Development Union at home and in the diaspora, including representatives of different organs of administration and the quarters that make up the community, as well as the Igbodo Youths Associations and other Stakeholders.
The election, which was adjudged to be a great improvement on previous experiences, was described as peaceful and transparent.
Announcing the results, the Electoral Committee Chairman, Mr Monday Ebenuwa said, Mr. Godwin Oji, who was elected, was the popular choice of Igbodo people, as his only opponent had earlier withdrew from the race voluntarily, in favour of Mr. Oji.
Speaking after the election, The Obi of Igbodo Kingdom, HRM, Obi (Barr) Ikechukwu Osedume 1, expressed his satisfaction on the peaceful conduct of the election.
He charged the PG and newly-elected executive of Igbodo Development Union (IDU) worldwide to work diligently towards the overall development of the community, work effectively towards giving the community more facelifts, carry the entire community along in the discharge of their duties, and to ensure that the bonds of unity in Igbodo remained intact.
The monarch said, with his antecedent as the President of IDU Warri branch for six years, Mr. Oji remained a tested, committed, and patriotic Igbodo citizen, hence, he was chosen by the people to serve at a higher level.
He explained that the community, through the election, had demonstrated their preparedness to commence the journey of more development in their homeland given the experience and antecedents of most members of the executive elected.
“We are all interested in promoting development across all quarters in the communities, through the entrenchment of democratically-elected town union executives,” he added.
Appreciating the people of Igbodo for their cooperation in coming out in large numbers for the conference from every part of the world, Obi Osedume described the election as one of the most transparent conducted in the history of Igbodo community.
The royal father, also thanked the outgoing Interim Management Committee for the service they rendered to the community selflessly for the past five years.
A stakeholder in the community, and the Odogwu of Igbodo Kingdom, Chief Ifeoha Azikiwe commended the role of the Electoral Committee Chairman, Mr. Monday Ebenuwa, in ensuring that the election were successful and conducted in a transparent manner.
The new Igbodo PG, Oji, In his acceptance speech, described the election as divine just as he commended the Obi and the electoral committee for delivering a transparent and credible election to the Igbodo people.
His words “I am happy that I was elected, I promise my leadership and executives will accomplish every task assigned to us, just as we will work for greater achievements for the community,” he said.
He pledged to work with his Executives and all critical organs in Igbodo to bring about more transformation in the town.
“We are all very happy and grateful to God for making today a reality. The expectations of the great people of Igbodo will be met because our tenure will be as transparent as possible and focused on meeting the demands of our people.
“I will, in my address to Igbodo people soon, present a detailed development agenda for the community”
“Once again I thank God Almighty and congratulate our people to whom this victory primarily belongs and I extend my hand of fellowship to my colleagues in the executive and enjoin them to join me in this onerous task of uniting and rebuilding our dear kingdom Igbodo” he stressed.
Among the Executives include first vice general,
Mr Ikechukwu Okwudi second Vice General,
Mr Nwaeke Justin, Secretary General
Mr Abel Uzu, Assistant Secretary General Mrs Esther Uche Anyia, Financial Secretary Mr Charles Apkese, Treasurer
Mr Michael Uyanne, PRO Mr Ekene Uzoma, Director of Social and Culture
Mr Chima Azi, First Provost Marshall
Mr Ifeanyi Ofili, second Provost Marshall,
Mr Chinoso Akaba, respectfully.
NIM.