From Nweke Nweke, Awka
After battling for over 18 years to make the stool of the monarch of Ogidi Community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state rotational among the villages that made up the community, having retrieved the long aged stool from Amobi family, Pharmacist (Chief) Alexander Uzo Onyudo was yesterday, (27/08/2016) elected as the traditional ruler of Ogidi community.
The election, which was conducted at the community town hall Uru Ogidi, attracted who is who, including the indigenes of the town in Diaspora, but few minutes into the commencement of the election, the co-contastant with the Igwe elect, Chief (Pharmacist) Albert Obi Ezegbo, having read the handwriting on the wall and in order to allow peace reign in his town, most humbly, in an open public, announced his discontinuation in the race, therefore having stepped down for the new Igwe elect.
The stepping down of Chief Ezegbo, it was learned, brought about endless joy in Ogidi Community as youths, elders, women and even octogenarians danced to the ‘heaven on earth’ palace of the Igwe elect.
In his acceptance speech, Igwe Alexander Uzo Onyudo, thanked his yesterday’s made subjects for calling him to serve them. In his words; “It is with deep sense of responsibility and humility that I stand before you all today(27/08/2016) to communicate my acceptance to hold the highly exalted office of Igwe Ogidi. I sincerely promise to discharge the duties of that office faithfully, zealously, conscientiously and to the best of my ability, to the glory of God Almighty and to the general welfare of Ogidi people.
“I must salute the courage and assiduty of the President General, Chief Chuka Onubuogu and members of the town union executives and various steering committees for planning and executing the election process successfully despite determined efforts by some disgruntled elements to frustrate and truncate the exercise.
“May I thank the generality of Ogidi people for the tremendous zeal demonstrated in this quest for the right monarch for Ogidi community as is evident from the massive turnout recorded during the electioneering campaigns as well as the election today. With this, it can be confidently said without fear of contradiction that OGIDI PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN”.
Concluding, the Igwe elect added: “To our highly respected illustrious son, my very senior colleague and opponent in this election contest, Chief Pharmacist Albert Obi Ezegbo, permit me Sir, to say ‘I am still loyal’. Your courage and perseverance throughout the election process was to say the least highly inspiring to all and sundry. We shall always seek your support and wise counsel as we continue to strive to move our great town forward”.
While entertaining answers to questions from Journalists in his palace, the Igwe elect made it known that all the octogenarians in his Kingdom has been automatically placed on monthly salary, noting that a committee will soon be set to document the people between the age of 80 years and above for the siad salary payment.
On the package he has for the youths, the phanantropist turned traditional ruler siad his ascending on the throne as Igwe Ezezeremagha 1 of Ogidi Kingdom will not tolerate hooliganism from the youths of the town, noting that when he might have been properly crowned, he was going to roll out his already written good script for the general good of Ogidi youths and the community by extension.
In their different reactions, the Kano state Chairman of Ogidi Union Nigeria, Chief Sunday Efego and his Lagos state counterpart as well as Chief Augustine Okechukwu Chukwuka, described the victory of the monarch elect as a prayer of the people in Ogidi answered by God.
They were of the view that with the ascending on the throne by Pharmacist Alexander Uzo Onyudo as the Igwe of Ogidi ancient kingdom, all that were scattered with rakes in the community within the period of the Igweship tussle is going to be gathered with single shovel in a very short possible period by the Igwe elect.
The highlight of the occasion includes: cannon shots, used in welcoming the monarch to the throne, women dance from all the villages in Ogidi as well as other musical entertainment while ‘eatables and drinkables’ were on serve yourself bases.
