A new village head has been elected for Ekpri Nsukara Offot Community in Offot Ukwa Clan, Uyo Local Government Area after the community recently denied it had selected a new head.
He is Otuekong Emem Dennis Asikpo, the immediate past Supervisory Councillor for Culture and Community Relations in Uyo Local Government and President, of Ekpri Nsukara Offot Youth Council.
A release made available to AKBC News indicates that the village head-elect ascending the royal throne of Ekpri Nsukara Offot Village after the demise of the late Village Head, Eteidung Linus Etim Essien, last year.
According to the release, Otuekong Asikpo emerged in an election held Saturday, May 6, at the Village Council Hall, Ekpri Nsukara Offot, Uyo.
Presenting the village head-elect to the leadership and members of Ekpri Nsukara Village, the family heads of Nung Abasi-Imoh, Obong Effiong Henry; Nung Okpo, Obong Francis Essang and Nung Udo Akpakpan, Obong Aniefiok Peter, eulogized the sterling leadership qualities of Otuekong Emem Dennis Asikpo.
Ekpri Nsukara Offot Community
The kingmakers noted that the choice of Otuekong Asikpo as the village head-elect was a good that has happened to the Ekpri Nsukara community and expressed optimism that his reign will foster peace and unity, engender socio-economic development and progress in the area.
Also read: Ekpri Nsukara Offot Village Council Denies Selecting New Village Head
Speaking earlier, a co-contestant for the throne, Obong Ukana Ukoh, accepted the outcome of the election, describing the process as free, fair, transparent, and acceptable, and assured that he would team up with the new royal father for peace and development of the village.
In his acceptance speech, the village head-elect, Otuekong Emem Dennis thanked God for lifting him among his people and promised to serve diligently towards the unity and development of the community.
The village head-elect called on the people to give him maximum cooperation in order to succeed in the task of providing the desired leadership and thanked the people for the opportunity and the platform they have entrusted him with.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ekpri Nsukara Offot Village Council, Comrade Morris Silas Bassey, and the Secretary, Elder Domingo B. Etim, had in their separate speeches indicated that the event of the day had only one agenda, which was strictly that of the family heads.
They assured the Kingmakers that the village council and the village as a whole would work with the village head-elect, Otuekong Asikpo, for the continued unity, peace, love, and general development of the community.
Among the dignitaries present at the event were Eteidung Udeme Nnah, Village Head, Ikot Ofiong Nsit; Eteidung Oliver Edet Etim, Village Head of Ikot Oko Idio; Obonganwan of Ekpri Nsukara Offot Village, Obonganwan Veronica Pius Odung; Obong Anthony Bassey Effiong, Obong Paulinus Dennis Asikpo, Mr. Sabastine Okon Bassey, Chairman, Village Council of Ikot Oko Idio; Chief Edet Jerome, Nung Ukpong Family; members of the village council, leaders of youths and women groups.
The high point of the event was the symbolic decoration of the village head-elect, Otuekong Emem Asikpo with the traditional palm front (eyei) known in Ibibio as Udak by the family heads.
