KINGSLEY EBERE
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, has cautioned and advised Ndigbo to respect the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as was pronounced by the Igbo highest authority, Imeobi, as Apex Leader.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Chief Aguene stated this on the heels of negative comments by some Igbo persons against the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide by Chief Iwuanyanwu as declared by Imeobi.
He stated that Chief Iwuanyanwu has emerged and he is a respected elder statesman, who has contributed immensely to the progress of Ndigbo and should be respected by all.
Aguene noted that he was aware that not all Igbo will support him, stating that if any Igbo is not in support of his leadership, such persons should keep to themselves and not come out publicly to abuse and cast aspersions on Chief Iwuanyanwu.
He advised Ndigbo to emulate other tribes, where he noted that such a thing does not happen in other ethnic groups like Yoruba and Hausa communities, which respect their leaders more than Ndigbo.
He explained that he knew way back when Chief Iwuanyanwu in 2020 took some of his Ohanaeze Executives from Lagos to Owerri to attend his birthday Party at Concord Hotel, when one Dr Ezechi was President of Ohanaeze in Imo State.
Chief Aguene explained that some of Ndigbo are blackmailers and that has affected Ndigbo relationship with other ethnic groups in Nigeria especially in Lagos State. He posited that if not for petty gossips and blackmailing Ndigbo will be strong stakeholders and will be sitting on round table discussions with Lagos State Government on power sharing in the State.
He noted that Ndigbo have individual relationships with other ethnic groups and when it comes to Government affairs, it is business relationships because Ndigbo remain pragmatic people that have much to contribute for the development of both Lagos State and indeed Nigeria.
Aguene reiterated his earlier call for the Igbo to support the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because they are trusted people that will perform and give Nigerians what they need at this point in our history as a nation.
“Tinubu believes in truth! He is a giver, who had made many people and great leaders. With his popularity as a leader with wisdom, he will surely perform and therefore, Ndigbo should support him ” Aguene stated.
He urged the Igbo to watch their words and stop backbiting themselves against their leaders because that was giving other tribes reasons not to trust them in the leadership of Nigeria.