CHUKA UBAH
The Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Political Forum, Lagos State, Chief Chris Ekwilo, has declared that the forum was formed by the Apex Igbo organization led by its President, Chief Solomon Aguene, for the 2023 Presidential bid of the APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Chief Ekwilo stated this at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariat in Surulere, Lagos, during the crucial meeting of the forum recently inaugurated by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State.
Ekwilo stated this on the heels of the campaign of calumny and false information being spread by some disgruntled elements within the Igbo circle that the Forum was against the APC and to notify the APC leadership in both Lagos State and at the National level the purpose for which it was created by Chief Aguene.
He explained that the mandate given to the Forum by the Ohanaeze President, Chief Aguene, is to deliver votes for Tinubu’s presidency and Sanwo-Olu’s reelection bid coming up in 2023 by mobilizing and sensitization of Ndigbo to massively vote for the APC.
He further stated that the process has already began on the mobilization of the Igbo across the 57 Local Councils in the State with six points agenda to deliver Igbo votes for Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu.
Chief Ekwilo, who is also known as the ‘Political Gas’ and Anya Ndigbo (Eyes of the Igbo people ), stated that mobilization is a terrain they have known over the the years and had done in the past when they mobilized Ndigbo in Lagos State and got block votes for the APC.
He hinted that the cheering thing about the Forum is that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as led by Chief Aguene, carefully selected all the Igbo political actors, merged them and he was made the Chairman with the forum focused on the six points agenda, which had been articulated in order to achieve the aims.
He stated that they have mapped out plans for the mobilization and campaign for the APC including the Forum’s General Assembly meeting, which each Local Government area across the State will be represented by 20 people and the official endorsement of APC candidates will be the mother of all endorsements in Lagos State.
On why the Forum decided to support the APC against other Political parties, Ekwilo explained that in as much that he knew that there are some Igbo people, who will support other parties, certainly majority of Ndigbo will support the APC mainly to protect their investments in Lagos State.
He further explained that there is this popular Igbo adage which states that: “Ebe Onye Bi ka Ona Awachi” literary meaning that one protects his area of abode. He noted that the Igbo are the second ethnic group in Lagos State with massive investments including companies, estates, markets among others, which run into billions of Naira noting that it will be foolhardy not to consider such investments while taking political decisions in Lagos State.
On other Igbo political groups like Igbo in APC, he explained that the more the merrier and if it is for the mobilization of Ndigbo in Lagos State, that it is a welcome development because it will assist the core Ohanaeze Ndigbo Political Forum to achieve the aims of getting block votes for APC in Lagos State.
He stated that there are so many activities lined up to achieve the aim of getting block votes for APC and thanked the Ohanaeze Ndigbo State President, Chief Aguene for applying the wisdom in creating the Forum, which has served as social security for Igbo living in Lagos State.