Ndigbo should not be enemies to themselves
OpenLife Nigeria reports that in a strategic move to harmonize Ndigbos and make the association better, a two-time former General Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State, Chief Thompson Chinenyeeze Ohia, has advised those against the second tenure of High Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, President Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos, to co operate with the performing President so that he would consolidate on the foundation he has laid which is beneficial to Ndigbos in Lagos and beyond
His statement is reproduced below
If any leader is interested in Ohanaeze Ndigbo, he should help in the projects at the national headquarters in Enugu and not Lagos. If not, it will not be help but destruction.
This is to inform Ndigbo in Lagos State that Ohanaeze Ndigbo local government election will be taking place in March, 2022.
The purpose of this publication is to guide those who don’t know much about Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
The President Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Solomon Ogbonna has changed the narratives from analogue to digital. He has made Ohanaeze Ndigbo known and respected.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos is no longer the way people used to see it when we were holding our meetings from one bar to the other and most times, at AP Club around the national stadium.
People used to see us as members of a sharing association, beggars, hungry and jobless people.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos is now an association that is well respected and regarded like NEC Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu.
You cannot talk about Ndigbo without mentioning the association which governs every other associations and individuals irrespective of their positions.
For example, Ndigbo Lagos, Aka Nkenga, market association, all women association, town union association are all under Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership anywhere in the world.
These explanations are very important for everyone to know because it will guide our ways of doing things.
However, anyone who is not the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and claims to be the leader of Ndigbo is mocking himself and desperate for power.
I, Chief Thompson Chinenyeeze Ohia, have served Ohanaeze Ndigbo as two-term Secretary General .
I am informing members of the public who do not know about Ohanaeze especially those who say there is no second term in office for Ohanaeze.
Those who say so do not know anything about one of the most popular socio cultural organizations-Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Above that, Chief Solomon Ogbonna has done so wonderfully well that he must be considered for second term.
The second term is a must if we need peace in Lagos State because we have been looking for a leader and we have found it in Chief Solomon Ogbonna.
More so, this is an association and not a political party. Ohanaeze is highly apolitical.
Though the constitution says one tenure, the same constitution made a clause that if anyone does wonderfully well like Chief Solomon, the general Assembly of Ohanaeze Ndigbo will endorse the person with automatic second tenure and that is why it is a socio cultural association and not a political party.
Traditional and cultural matters are different from political party matters and the rules are also different. The way palaces like the Obi of Onitsha, Ooni of Ife, Sultan of Sokoto, Oba of Lagos are run is different from constitution.
As far as the socio cultural association finds a good leader who does not pollute and deviate from the culture and tradition of the people, he should be automatic to be there if we want peace.
When Nnamdi Kanu started his interest for Ndigbo, people saw it as a joke. Today, is it still a joke?
My people, don’t support crises in Lagos Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Lagos State government has accepted us wholeheartedly because of the leadership of Chief Solomon. Those who say no problem will not be here to face the music. They will be secured in the east or somewhere.
There is an adage that says if a word of an old man does not come first, it will come last.
Therefore, Chief Solomon Ogbonna, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has done beyond expectations. So, his endorsement by the good people of Ndigbo in Lagos is not a mistake.
As two-term Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, I was given second tenure because I did very well . And today, I am the ex-offical of Imo State in Ohanaeze.
I have seen it all for over 20 years.
No president has done what Chief Solomon has done.
For over 20 years of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, there was no secretariat. It was Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene that gave us a classy secretariat with full operational tools.
Since Chief Solomon came to office, hundreds of our widows who have been neglected in the past have all be empowered.
Today, President Solomon Aguene has liberated Ndigbos from their sufferings. He has connected Ndigbo with the government of Lagos State.
What else do we want? Do we want to be enemies of our host community? Our investments, no matter how big, are our personal profits and attraction to different tribes and countries. It cannot guarantee us the owners of the land.
For example, the President, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene’s first daughter, Chioma Solomon, just got married to a Yoruba man on February 6.
Does that give him automatic land owner in Yoruba land? Those who will not like what I am saying here are those with personal interests especially as 2023 is around the corner.
Also, Solomon Ogbonna has stopped the monthly levy that other Presidents and some executive chairmen used to enrich themselves.
Since he assumed office, no member has contributed a kobo to the running of the big secretariat.
He runs Ohanaeze Ndigbo with his personal contacts and relationship with the government of Lagos State.
The traditional rulers known as Ndi Eze have been in dispute for over 20 years speaking with different voices.
There was no unity among them until Solomon came to power and united them by appointing the chairman, council of traditional rulers, Ndi Eze in Lagos and returned peace to the association.
In every society and every 12, there is always Judas. But irrespective of that, he manages them very well.
Chief Solomon empowered all the 57 chairmen through the funds from Lagos State. During the coming of the enemy of the world known as pandemic, Ndigbo was sustained with different palliatives including money through Solomon Ogbonna’s relationship with the governor of Lagos State and the Grand Patron of Ohanaeze, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii.
Ndigbo, why are some of us so forgetful? Are we so ungrateful?
As a Christian and former secretary general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, if I, Chief Thompson Chinenyeeze Ohia, don’t say the truth, it will affect me.
Those who are looking for Presidency of Ohanaeze and still looking for sponsors who will buy them forms and discussing how they are going to pay back their sponsors including profits for the sponsors, my question to Ndigbo is: What are they coming to do for us in Ohanaeze? I am asking because of my experience as two-term secretary general. This is because I have seen it all.
After the last election that brought Chief Solomon to power, he is still in court till date with the immediate past President, Barrister Fabian Onwughalu and the old members of Ohanaeze who are supporting the former President.
Also, Enugu coming to Lagos to do election is a no go area because they cannot manage the crises.
Enugu can only come to Lagos for observation during the election and that has been in our bye law and constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
In any case, Professor Obiozor is a diplomat and he will not do that no matter how the politicians push him for their own interests in 2023.
Those who are blackmailing Chief Solomon because they want to become President of Ohanaeze are selling stories from animalistic angle.
The blackmails are so cheap and pedestrian.
My question to them is: Is it because of 2023 election that they want to eat from all the political parties or it is the interest of Ndigbo? If it is for political party, we also have party giants in Lagos like Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tunde Fashola, Babajide Sanwo–Olu etc.
Why do we want to use our hands to destroy Igbo’s culture and go back to Egypt?
If we want to be talking about all the good things Solomon has done, it would be like writing a book. He helps the less privileged every day. He has strong contacts all over the places. It is not only government that is supporting him.
He has the contacts of over 60% of Igbo successful men in Lagos.
I, Chief Thompson Chinenyeeze Ohia, who is close to the daily activities of Lagos Ohanaeze Ndigbo, know that no member has brought any contact of any kind that brought a kobo to the association. We all know that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has no allocation. It is the grace upon President Solomon that all his contacts are responding to him including Lagos governor and Dr. Ifeanyi Odii, the grand patron of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. So, what are talking about?
The grace of God upon Chief Solomon and the wisdom of God in his life have extended to Lagos Ohanaeze Ndigbo and members are benefitting.
Ndigbo, I have come to realize that Ndigbos are enemies to themselves and not government of Nigeria or any political party.
Chief Solomon’s leadership has made Ohanaeze Ndigbo to be recognized.
Chief Solomon has attracted top personalities including former presidents, governors, ministers to the association.
For example, the chairman of his inauguration was former military vice President, Retired Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe and the vice chairman was the former governor of Ondo State, Segun Mimiko.
That says who Chief Solomon is before becoming the President of Ohanaeze.
We know how we begged him before he accepted to contest.
In 2023, we will see the way we love ourselves.
More than 20 people will come out to contest for President of Nigeria and no one will be ready to step down for the other.
Rather, they will increase their blackmailing and campaign of calumny.
Ndigbo, where are we going?
Yoruba and Hausa are not our enemies. We are enemies to ourselves.
If Chief Solomon Ogbonna doest continue as President of Lagos Ohanaeze Ndigbo, then Ndigbo will move from flying pan to fire in Lagos State. The 2nd term is important for him to concretize the foundation he has laid.
Please, don’t let some wicked leaders especially the politicians, who do not like the interest of common men to disrupt this God given administration.
Solomon has the interest of the less privileged at heart. There is always a second tenure. I served two tenure as secretary general of Lagos Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The president of Ondo State has served two terms. The president of Ohanaeze Ogun State has served two terms. The youth leader of Eti Osa has served two terms.
The Vice President of Lagos Ohanaeze, a young man from Enugu State has served two terms. If you are in doubt, come to Ohanaeze headquarters in Lagos, the proof is there.
Any leader from south east whether governor or leader who is intervening now in Ohanaeze matter but has never financially or materially intervened in the past, is doing so for his personal and selfish 2023 interests. Such person wants to tell his party that he is the one controlling Ndigbo in Lagos.
We know them but we will not mention names.
I call on Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu and Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to allow sycophants to destroy the relationship that Chief Solomon has built between Ndigbo and Lagos State with the grand patron of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Ifeanyi Odii.
If you people allow it, you will see the difference in 2023.
I have lived in Lagos for close to 40 years and I am a member of Ndigbo in APC.
So experience is there and I know what I am talking about.
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