Ohanaeze Election: How Chief Solomon Ogbonna Is Setting The Pace For 2nd Tenure As President

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The coast is now clear for the amiable Igbo leader and incumbent President of Ohanaeze, Lagos State, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, for a second tenure as the Igbo people in Lagos seem to have realized his leadership potentials and now want him to continue as President.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the chances became brighter when the first President of Ohanaeze, Lagos State, Chief John Uche, declared that there was no rotation of Ohanaeze Presidency in Lagos State, stressing that the position is open to any Igbo to contest in line with the Constitution.

This may have informed the decision of the Ohanaeze Women’s Wing from Badagry Local Government to pay a courtesy visit to Chief Ogbonna at the Ohanaeze Secretariat in Surulere area of Lagos, thanking him for what he has done to the less privileged in the society while asking him to continue to lead the Igbo in Lagos State.

While the dust of their visit was yet to settle, a group from Ikorodu area of Lagos, known as Ogene Ndi Igbo, led by one Chief (Mrs.) Nelly, popularly known as Ada Igbo, led her group to the Igbo House and made Chief Solomon Ogbonna the Grand Patron of the group because he has proved himself as a great leader by touching the lives of people.

Also hundreds of Ohanaeze Women’s entertainment group, which is an arm of the Women’s Wing, have been singing praises of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene for the transformation he has brought to the Igbo leadership in Lagos State and urged him to continue to lead.

The former President of Igbo Speaking Community, Chief Chris Ekwilo, may have captured the feelings of majority of Ndigbo in Lagos State when he declared publicly at different fora that Chief Aguene was a prayer answered by God to the Igbo in Lagos.

Chief Ekwilo explained that Chief Aguene has not only united the Igbo in Lagos State from Wards, Local Governments Areas and State with his leadership quality but has connected Ndigbo to the critical Igbo stakeholders, other ethnic groups and the Lagos State Government.

When Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene emerged as President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos in 2018, many Igbo people believed he would toe the normal way of his predecessors. But today, he has changed the narrative. The present Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos has gained more popularity both home and abroad under the leadership of Chief Solomon Ogbonna and Ndigbo are well respected in Lagos because of him.

His administration came with human face, truth and transparency, which a typical Igbo person wants in leadership. He has brought Ohanaeze to the limelight, connecting it to people that matters in the society and the host community with the likes of the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Grand Patron of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, Eze Uche Dimgba, Chief Oliver Akubueze, Council of traditional rulers led by Eze Chris Offia and many other respected Igbo leaders.

Today, Ohanaeze, Lagos State has a new face via Chief Solomon Ogbonna, whom they so much trusted that he can deliver the dividends of good leadership, which he has been doing since he took over the leadership.

On the secret of his performance, Chief Ogbonna said, “It is said that seeing is believing! What Ndigbo did not enjoy before my tenure, they are now enjoying it. Even though out of 12 there must be a Judas, but 95% can testify to the achievements of the present leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State under my supervision, compared to my predecessors. That is why I promise to do better than my achievements yesterday for the interest of Ndigbo and our host community”.

Indeed, the Igbo people have seen, believed and they want continuity in order to consolidate on the achievements of Chief Ogbonna with his transformation agenda for good leadership in Lagos State for the good of Ndigbo.