Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene
OpenLife Nigeria reports that on Sunday, October 22, Lagos State Government shut down the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association, ASPAMDA and other markets within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex in Ojo Local Government Area of the State over alleged environmental infractions.
The State Government, in the early hours of Monday, October 23, also shut down the popular Alaba International Market over failure to pay waste bills, poor waste disposal practices and inefficient environmental sanitation.
In this interview, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, appeals to governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reopen the market because of the adverse effects on children who are dependent on the daily incomes of their parents from these markets
Alaba international market and Aspamda have been closed down by Lagos State government. As the President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, What do you think are the reasons for closing the market?
From my investigation so far, I am told that some of the reasons for the closure of the markets are failure to pay waste bills, poor waste disposal practices and Inefficient environmental sanitations.
Well, I have always been advising my people, especially when we are having general assembly meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that they should always obey the laws of the land to avoid confrontations with the government.
I also heard that Mile 12 market in Ketu which is dominated by the northerners was closed down a week before Alaba and Aspamda. Like I always say, leadership is by birth, common sense, wisdom and sacrifice.
That is why it is like I am the only one talking for Ndigbo today in Lagos while so many others are unperturbed about our problems. As a leader, l study a lot of things about Igbo any where they reside.
From my study, I discovered that any Igbo people reside, we are the tribe that always have the highest physical assets more than other non-indigenes. That is one of the reasons that every attack affects us.
Sometime, Ndigbo should see this as a testimony from God that we are doing well.
For instance, every state in Nigeria needs us more than the way we need them because they know that every Igbo man is not coming to collect and disappear.
Therefore, we must try as much as possible to obey the laws of the land especially in Lagos State and other States in Nigeria and overseas.
Ndigbo, we must continue to support Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government irrespective of what is going on in Nigeria’s politics.
In no distant time, everything will take the best of shape.
I can assure Ndigbo that there are so many decisions taken in different states and the governor of the state will not be aware.
Therefore, we citizens should not be apportioning every blame on our leaders especially the governor.
Even in the military, sometimes, officers on the field take decision without the order of their Commander.
It is not every action that the governor knows about.
In many occasions, people will be having individual quarrel in the market and some would say it was caused by Sanwo-Olu and maybe the Yoruba person you are having issue with has never seen or touched the clothe of Sanwo-Olu.
Some people attack me saying I am supporting Sanwo-Olu.
I am not worried about what people say about me as a leader because I support Sanwo-Olu.
My advice to every Igbo man and woman in Lagos is that we should be taking decision like the military who serve every government irrespective of the party that is in power instead of complaining.
We should also be mindful of what we say about leaders and government.
Five years ago, there were no news of closing down of any Igbo major market in Lagos.
This has be because of the relationship I, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, have with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
But some, among us, went to the governor to destroy the relationship by telling him all sorts of lies against me simply because of jealousy, envy. Now, we can see the result. Who is fooling who, Ndigbo?
In most cases , we are the problems of ourselves.
Above all, I plead strongly with governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to re open all these markets that are still closed down.
Looking at the contributions of Ndigbo in Lagos, I have advised the governor, which were published through media, to be having town hall meetings with Ndigbo.
This is because Ndigbo dominate the trading field among other non-indigenes in Lagos State.
The town hall meeting should involve some party members especially the All Progressives Congress, APC State chairman in Lagos State, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, who has a lot of Igbo good friends like the governor.
Their advice will go a long way to improve the relationship between the two tribes.
No doubt, the contribution of Ndigbo in Lagos state cannot be down played, no matter the angle you look at it.
That has made them part of the government whether anybody likes it or not. Please sir, my governor I know you to be a good Christian.
These traders who feed their family from these businesses don’t find it easy staying at home for a day.
About Author
