By Chuks Eke
Henceforth, absolute peace would be restored to Alor community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state, home town of the incumbent Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, 13 years after chieftaincy and town union crisis in the area.
Newly elected President-General of Alor Peoples Convention, APC, High Chief Emmanuel Ojukwu who made the vow in his post-election speech, said he would wade into the crisis with immediate effect with a view to calming the frayed nerves within a space of time.
Ojukwu noted that he would invoke the power of God to achieve the feat, particularly when he discovered that both parties agreed to step down for him during the town union election that brought him and his new executive into power.
He said that although achieving peace in the area is a herculean task but making him an unopposed candidate during the election was a sign that the community us already at the verge of ushering in a spirit of unity, adding, “my emergence in this election is an indication that we are now heading to one in unity”.
“The magic for my emergence was God. Alor is a peaceful town. It is just a little misunderstanding and arguments. It is a matter of time”.
“My people have demonstrated unity, they have been fighting, but it is time to come together as one indivisible entity and move the community forward”.
“They simply demonstrated it with my emergence, I did not expect the overwhelmed support and understanding by all on my election”.
On his plans ahead to further strengthen the unity of the community, he said: “the vehicle is ready. We have bought tyres and steering and we are picking the passengers, and only the honest passengers that are willing to travel will get on board”.
“But at the same time, we are not chasing anybody, this is not the time to say, this one is on this camp or the other camp. As far as I am concerned, the issue of camp or camps was dead and buried on that same day that the entire Alor person, from whatever side came together and queued behind me”.
“I didn’t know even what happened, I saw it in the video eventually that every person, Chiefs, old and young came behind me in the line. The line was so long that I think, they had to form three lines eventually because the field became too small for them to queue behind me”.
The new President-General thanked the people for the opportunity to serve the constitutional three year tenure, and assured them of running an open-door policy.
Ojukwu pledged to restore peace which has eluded the people for years, adding that he would work with all for rapid development of the community.
”We know the task ahead is enormous. The community has given the new leadership this task and trust,” he said.
He commended the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, the monarch, the electoral committee and the Alor people for the smooth conduct of the election that produced him.
While commending the new leadership, Sen. Ngige had said that he is committed to peace to reign in the community.
Ngige urged Alor Community to accept the outcome of the election, and described Ojukwu as one who will change the story of the community for good.
Also on his part, the Traditional Ruler of Alor Community, Igwe Mac Anthony Okonkwo, said that the 1992 constitution of the community, as amended in 2011 states that the Igwe is the patron of the convention at the town hall and acknowledged the conduct of the election as free, fair and credible, even as he prayed for peace and progress in Alor.
Okonkwo commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo whom he said has come to bring solution to the problems in his domain and other communities in the state.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Idemili South,v Mrs Obi who expressed satisfaction with success of the election, said that Alor is known for uniqueness, and prayed that God will continue to restore sanity, unity and peace to Alor community.
Also the immediate past President-General of the town, Mr. Uzoma Igbonwa lauded the people for the privilege afforded him and his executive to serve the town and expressed the hope that the new executive will consolidate on the achievements already recorded.
Other members of the new executive are Barr. Ngozi Udodi (Legal Adviser), Nze Martin Udoagwa (Public Relations Officer), Mr. Ifeanyi Ezika (Provost) and Mr Osita Okeide (Provost ll).
Others are, Mr Ubabike Emecheta (Secretary), Martin Akpugo (Assistant Secretary), Chief Ifeanyi Egwuonwu (Financial Secretary), while Mr. Afam Nwudo is the Treasurer.
The election which took place at the town hall Square Alor was observed by the officials of Anambra state government through the electoral committee chairman led by the President, Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) Barr. Titus Akpudo.
