Ovations greet Ndifreke Offiong, 45, as new Village Head-elect in Oruk Anam
• Obong Ndifreke Ime Akpan Offiong being presented to the community by Obong Monday Akpan Udoudo of Ekpuk Nung Akpan Udoudo, Chief Emem David Essien of Ekpuk Nung Essien, &C Udeme Okon Akpan Umoh of Ekpuk Nung Akpan Umoh.
Obio Ibiet Esa village in the Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has entered a new chapter with the election of Obong Ndifreke Ime Akpan Offiong as its new village head-elect.
The election, held on Saturday at the Village Council hall, drew traditional rulers from both the local community and neighboring areas, including Ikot Edem Udo, Afaha Obo, and Ikot Akpan Inyang.
Chief Friday Moses Etim, Chairman of the Family Heads Forum in Ndot Clan, presided over the election and announced that four candidates were in the running: Obong Ndifreke Ime Akpan Offiong of Ekpuk Nung Offiong, Obong Udo Monday Akpan Udoudo of Ekpuk Nung Akpan Udoudo, Chief Emem David Essien of Ekpuk Nung Essien, and Chief Udeme Okon Akpan Umoh of Ekpuk Nung Akpan Umoh.
He noted that Obong Ndifreke Ime Akpan Offiong, 45, was unanimously chosen by the other three family heads.
Chief Etim emphasized that the election process adhered to the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council Law and upheld the principles of fairness, equity, and justice.
In his first address to the community following the announcement, Obong Ndifreke Akpan Offiong expressed gratitude to God for his election. He also extended his thanks to the family heads, women, youths, and traditional rulers from Oruk Anam and Ukanafun Local Government Areas who attended the significant event.
The newly elected village head pledged to prioritize the education of children and the empowerment of youths and women, initiatives he believes will positively transform the community.
“I’m very happy for what God has done today in Obio Ibiet Esa. We used to have two villages as one, that is Nung Oku Ibiet l and Obio Ibiet Esa. But today, we have gone our separate ways and I have been elected as Village Head of Obio Ibiet Esa.
“My first priority is to see how we can strengthen the bond of unity between our village and our neighbours. This is important to me. I also will prioritize the education of our children. We have to make sure that the only school in this village, the Government Primary School, Obio Ibiet Esa, is supported to function well for our children.
“Of particular interest to us is that we will ensure orphans in our community are either sent to school, or given empowerment. This, I believe, will put us on the path of greatness we all long for”.
While advising the people to return to the ways of life of their forebears whom he said were united, just and peaceful, Obong Umoren pledged to represent all interests in the community.
The village head-elect also announced Aniedi Jonah Akpan as the new town crier for the community.
Speaking to journalists after the election, a member of the community, Saviour Akpan, said the exercise was necessary in view of the vacuum that existed in the headship of the community.
Akpan, who is a Human Right Activist, said as a gazetted village in Akwa Ibom, a new leadership was needed to run the affairs of the community.
On what should constitute the priority of the new village head-elect, Akpan said unity was cardinal, as this could be a recipe for growth and development of the community.
“The first thing I expect the village head-elect to do is to bring unity. The unity must be based on an established justice. Anybody whose property was taken away must have back his or her property. Let everybody live in peace and harmony with one another”.
Akpan, who is also the immediate past National Chairman of Network On Police Reform In Nigeria (NOPRIN), emphasized the need to educate the children in the community which he said would bring about a wholesome development of the minds and by implication the community.
While calling on the Akwa Ibom State Government and the global community to assist in this regard, the Human Right Activist said such assistance, particularly in the area of funding, provision of facilities, among others, would turn out a lot of doctors, lawyers, engineers and other professionals into the society, rather than criminals.
“The next thing I expect is education of the children in this community. Therefore, I call on the government and global community to come to our assistance.
“We want to make sure we educate our children in the area of academics and vocation. We have to produce more doctors, lawyers, engineers and other professionals.”
Saviour Akpan therefore, expressed optimism that Obio Ibiet Esa, under the leadership of Obong Ndifreke Akpan Offiong, would witness tremendous strides in many areas of life.
