KINGSLEY EBERE
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief Solomon Aguene, has warned Ndigbo to beware of a group led by Chief Sunday Ossai and Prince Ubochi Ubochi claiming to be Ohanaeze and scheduling to hold meeting on Saturday in the State.
Aguene stated that there is only one Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State recognized by the law under his leadership, whose secretariat is located at Robinson Street in Surulere area of Lagos.
He explained that any other group parading themselves as Ohanaeze in Lagos are fake and will no longer be tolerated because the issue of who is the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State has since been resolved by the Lagos State High Court and his tenure have not elapsed.
Chief Aguene stated that the group led by Chief Ossai and Ubochi parading themselves as Ohanaeze should stay clear from the planned meeting because their action will amount to contempt of Court and it will be enforced if any person gets arrested at the meeting venue on Saturday.
He explained that he had been very reluctant to enforce the Court judgment because he has compassion for every Igbo person but the manner in which Chief Ossai and his group has been conducting themselves may force him to do so on Saturday.
He expressed his willingness to complete his tenure, conduct election and hand over to the new executives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State.
Aguene stated that he had taken his time to pass the information to the social media to warn the group and Ndigbo because any person found at the meeting venue will be arrested and prosecuted for Contempt of Court.
Meanwhile, some members of the group may have realized that the purported meeting is illegal and may face charges for Contempt of Court and decided to apply caution.
One of them is the chairman of the contact and Mobilization committee, His Lordship, Justice Alpha Ikpeama, who sent in his resignation letter to Chief Ossai and his group.
The letter stated:
“Resignation as Chairman, Contact and Mobilization Committee
Dear Esteemed Members,
I wish to formally notify the house of my resignation from the position of Chairman, Contact and Mobilization Committee, with immediate effect. This decision is necessitated by my tight schedule and other pressing engagements.
Please be assured that I remain committed to the success of our shared vision. I am still one of you and will not withhold any useful information or contributions that can facilitate the success of the event we are planning.
I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience my resignation may cause and I appreciate your understanding.
Remain blessed.
His Lordship,
Justice Alpha Ikpeama”
It appears that the group has lost touch since the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, confirmed Chief Aguene as the authentic President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State and described Chief Sunday Ossai, Robert Obasi, Prince Ubochi led group as imposters.
The leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, said that its support was based on the the judgment of Justice L.A.M. Folami of the Ikeja division of the Lagos State High Court on April 12, 2022, which confirmed Aguene as the legitimate president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State.
He noted that by the judgment, any person or group of persons parading themselves as Ohanaeze President and leaders are imposters and the public should beware of such persons.
Comrade Madu also asked all and sundry to ignore the Igbo Day celebration being organized by a rival group led by Chief Ossai against Aguene, which the MASSOB leader described as imposters event.
“These impostors are posing a serious threat to the unity and peace of the Igbo community in Lagos State. We regard their self-imposed leadership as not only illegal but also as a blatant disrespect to the traditions and structures that represent the interests of Ndigbo.” Madu declared.