By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The newly elected National President of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum (INYF), Dr Andrew Chibueze Elom on Wednesday assumed office with charity service in Ebonyi State.
Elom was officially handed over his office by his Predecessor, Comrade Ben Nwovu at the Forum's Secretariat, Abakaliki following his election last Sunday at Izhi Nnodo ancestral home, Anmegu in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Speaking during the event, the new President, Elom promised to be an active player in making Izhi, the strongest clan in the comity of peaceful, united, and prosperous nations.
He commended the members of the Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum for their solidarity, support, and encouragement during the election.
The President extolled Governor Francis Nwifuru for having presented the platform by which he emerged, to steer the leadership of the Forum, describing him as "the father of modern Ebonyi State."
Elom also thanked his Predecessor, Comrade Ben Nwovu for using his leadership wisdom to ensure the election and handover exercises ended peacefully.
He added: "Every policy and program of His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is all about peaceful coexistence of one another in the State; if not, the former National President who handed over to me, may not have had the seamless administration that led to my emergence as his successor.
"It's because of what the governor did that the former National President was able to run his seamless administration, leading to my emergence.
"So, I thank him for the friendly policy of his administration, because he runs people's oriented government. This has made Ebonyi people live peacefully, especially in the Izhi clan.
"So I'm very happy for everything he did and as well my predecessor, who despite among all the contestants ensured there was no crisis during the election. God gave him the wisdom, and he applied it very well, by ensuring that the atmosphere during the election was very friendly."
He urged Ebonyi people especially those from the Izhi clan not to choose to be like a biblical prodigal son but to come back home to enjoy the full dividends of democracy under the administration of Governor Nwifuru.
"There's no need of going out from home to search for food since we have enough in our state, courtesy of the quality and excellent leadership of our Governor," he hinted.
In his remarks, the immediate past President of the Forum, Comrade Ben Nwovu congratulated him with other officials of the Forum and advised them to be orderly in piloting the affairs of their members in the state.
Also, the former Legal Adviser of the Forum, Prince Obinna Iteshi urged the new leaders of Izzi Youth to shun any action that would degenerate into crisis but to work together for the development of the Izhi clan, Ebonyi State, and Nigeria in general.
The Chairman of the Coordinators Forum in Ebonyi State, who is also the Secretary General of the Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, Hon Chidi Ogbonna assured that he would contribute positively to attract more good legacies to the body.
Ogbonna, the Coordinator of Ominyi Development Centre, further enjoined youth especially those from Izhi Nation to emulate Governor Nwifuru both in leadership style and humanitarian services to the people.
Other Speakers at the event included the Ebonyi Development Centre Coordinator, Comrade Destiny Uchenna Nwodom, his counterpart of Echi-Aba Development Centre, Prince Friday Oketa, and President Ndieze Inyimegu Autonomous Community Development Union, Evangelist Ezeora Aligwe, among others, advised the new officers of the Forum to perform better than the predecessors.
Recall that the new President of the Forum, Dr Andrew Chibueze Elom with the assistance of his Predecessor, Comrade Ben Nwovu, and other benevolent members of the Forum raised 895,000 Naira and donated the money to Mr and Mrs Samuel Igwe who hail from Idembia in Ezza South Council Area of the state to use and treat their daughter, Mary's eye problem.
The body advised the vulnerable parents, Igwe, and his wife to move to the hospital for urgent treatment of their daughter whose eye problem became pathetic in the second week of April this year but could not access quality medical care and treatment due to lack of funds.
The President assured of taking further steps with his members to ensure more fund is raised to facilitate the treatment of the sick child, noting that his administration would continue to embark on humanitarian services indiscriminately in the state.
Other highlights of the event were prayers ushered on the new leaders and members of the Forum by Rev. Fr Alexander Eze, the Catholic Priest from Saint Stephen's Parish, Agubia Ikwo, presentation of certificates of return to new executives, and merriments.
