Ohanaeze: Chief Oba Ojoto Declares To Contest For Presidency Of Lagos State Chapter 

KINGSLEY EBERE 

The election of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State is gaining momentum following the declaration of Chief Leonard Okafor (Oba Ojoto) to contest for the position of President in the forthcoming election.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Oba Ojoto, nickenamed Igbo Peace maker, made the declaration at the Igbo Community center at the Palace of Ezendigbo in Lagos State, Eze Christian Nwachukwu, where he held a meeting with some Ndieze and critical stakeholders over Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the State.

Chief Leonard Okafor was the initiator of peace meeting between the two factions led by Chief Solomon Aguene and Chief Sunday Ossai, which made the warring factions to embrace peace and agree for a united Ohanaeze in Lagos State.

The peace initiative made by Oba Ojoto led to a Unity Party held at Calabar Hall in Surulere area of Lagos, where both Chief Ossai and Aguene publicly embraced peace before the stakeholders and agreed to conduct inclusive election for the lasting peace.

At the Igbo community center at Okota, Lagos, Eze Nwachukwu told Oba Ojoto that Ndieze and some critical Igbo stakeholders have held series of discussions on how to move Ohanaeze Ndigbo forward and finally restore lasting peace in the State.

He explained that to that effect, they agreed that since the election is coming up, Ohanaeze Ndigbo needs a strong leadership that will unite and consolidate the peace initiative he (Oba Ojoto) started.

Eze Nwachukwu said, “Having considered so many things, Ndigbo have asked you (Oba Ojoto) to consider and accept to take the leadership of Ohanaeze as president because if he has the capacity to bring the two factions together,  he has capacity to lead Ndigbo in Lagos State”.

Eze Nwachukwu told Oba Ojoto that they were aware he declined not to seek for any leadership position iin Ohanaeze during the Peace Party he initiated at Surulere, Lagos. But as a necessity,  he pleaded with him to accept to lead Ndigbo by accepting to be the President.

Some of the speakers at the meeting said the same and told Oba Ojoto that he has to accept the clarion call by Ndigbo to accept the leadership of Ohanaeze in Lagos State.

Moved by the pleadings by the eminent personalities at the meeting, Oba Ojo accepted and gave some conditions.

One of the conditions he gave was total support by those present at the meeting and for them to reach out to those who were not present at the meeting.  He also warned against betrayal as he had suffered in the past and made it clear that he will pull out from the race if those present betrays him because of the nasty experience he had in the past.

He explained that he is passionate about the unity and progress of Ndigbo in Lagos State and noted that if Ndigbo are united in Lagos State, it will bring positive effects to other states in Nigeria.

The issue of reconciliation was considered at the meeting. It was resolved that a reconciliation committee should be set up and inaugurated to reach out to some Ohanaeze members who feel aggrieved in order to bring everyone along under the leadership of Oba Ojoto.
Eze Christian Nwachukwu is leading the reconciliation committee which has since commenced the work.