CHUKA UBAH
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, has congratulated respected Elder Statesman and Clergy, Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku (Baba Eto) as he marks his 76th birthday in grand style.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Chief Aguene described the man of God and esteemed GAC member, Odunmbaku as the friend of Ndigbo, who has demostrated it by words and actions over the years by the way he related and embraced Ndigbo in Lagos State.
Aguene recalled some instances where Baba Eto had called Ndigbo and gave them fatherly advice on how to live peacefully with other ethnic groups and his advice had always played an important role in the existing good relationship among the other ethnic groups in the State.
He said that since the Igbo in Lagos State, having realized that Baba Eto has a good heart and accepted the Igbo, many of the Igbo have accepted him as both their spiritual and political father and he has equally adopted them as his children and usually give Ndigbo fatherly advice on their welfare in the State.
Aguene stated that he has briefed Baba Eto on the recent decision of the Igbo stakeholders under the umbrella of Ohanaeze on 2023.
Chief Aguene informed Baba Eto that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State stakeholders held a meeting comprising the Igbo sons and daughters, where they deliberated and agreed to support the Presidential bid of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s reelection in 2023.
Aguene explained that the decision was arrived at after several hours of meeting, where Ohanaeze recognized that Mr. Sanwo-Olu has touched the lives of many Igbo people in the State and Asiwaju Tinubu was the first Governor that appointed an Igbo man as Commissioner in the person of Pastor Ben Akabueze and other positions in Lagos State.
Aguene said that he has infomed Baba Eto about the decision of Ohanaeze as a group and Ndigbo to support APC, the Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for 2023 based on the need for Ndigbo in Lagos to benefit from the dividends of democracy and to protect their huge investments in Lagos State.
“We will support whoever is Sanwo-Olu’s candidate for the Presidency. The decision was made because it matters to our lives, destiny, and everything we are doing; Lagos State is like the second home of Ndigbo.”
“This is where we have our highest investments and the highest population of Igbo in the world. If we have a Governor that is caring for us and Tinubu, who have demonstrated love to Ndigbo in Lagos State is in Abuja with our support, we will have life easier and better.” Aguene said to Baba Eto.
Chief Aguene maintained that the Igbo are wise people and there is every need to continue to maintain the cordial relationship, which exists between Ndigbo and the owners of the land and which had necessitated the creation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Political Forum led by Chief Chris Ekwilo and other political actors to galvanize and mobilize Ndigbo across the 57 Local Council areas in Lagos to vote for Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu in the 2023 general elections.