Ohanaeze President, Chief Solomon Aguene Sacks LG Chairmen, Inaugurates Electoral Committee In Lagos

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, has taken a decisive step by sacking all the association’s Local Governments Chairmen and setting up electoral committee to be headed by Chief Oliver Akubueze for the conduct of fresh elections in the State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the decision of the Ohanaeze General Assembly’s meeting held on Monday at Calabar Kitchen hall in Surulere area of Lagos State, which was attended by major stakeholders in Lagos State including the Chairman of Council of Ezendigbo, Lagos State, Eze Chris Offia.

This may have been a response over clandestine moves by some disgruntled elements to cause breach of peace by using the affected chairmen and Ohanaeze Worldwide to break the unity of the Ohanaeze in Lagos State.

Chief Aguene, while reacting to a letter being circulated in the social media that Ohanaeze worldwide has appointed one Chief Fidelis Chukwu as chairman of Electoral Committee for the conduct of the election in Lagos State, urged the members of Ohanaeze to disregard such information because they cannot come to Lagos to conduct election where Ohanaeze Lagos State has their bylaws for election in the State. 

Chief Aguene advised the Ohanaeze worldwide to face and resolve lingering security challenges the Igbo are facing in the Southeast than coming to Lagos to conduct election, which is not part of their functions. 

He explained that the last election, which Ohanaeze worldwide came to Lagos to conduct some years back, is still a subject of litigation and they abandoned the matter and went back to Enugu while causing the crisis in Lagos State which he has been trying to resolve since he took over.

Aguene explained that Ohanaeze Lagos State has its bylaws, which they will use to conduct the election and the process has started by the appointment of Electoral Committee, which will conduct elections in the 57 Local Councils in Lagos State.

On the dissolution of the Chairmen of LGs in the State, Chief Aguene explained that they have over stayed hence their dissolution and has directed the electoral committee to commence work immediately on the guidelines for the election and within days.

Those appointed apart from Chief Akubueze as Chairman included Barristers Chucks Nnalugha and Fabian Onwughalu as Secretary and Legal Adviser respectively.

Other members were:  Chief Damian Okoye (Nanka) Eze Chris Offia, Prince Chukwuemeka Onuoha, Chief Calistus Odoemena, Sabastine Amanze, Chief Thompson Ohia, Celestine Ugwu, Obiora Okonkwo, and Chukwuemeka Okpala.

Also part of the committee were Mrs. Catherine Ezenwokwe, Mrs. Ann Okwielika, Mrs. Jane Okoro, Kelvin Okereke, Gab Osueke, Ikechukwu Nwancho, Ejitiru Ikenga, Chief Samuel Onyelika, Engr. Samuel  Agubusin, Edwin Egboka, Pastor Paul Eze, Chief (Mrs.) Kate Onyechere, Chief Mike Chidiebele and others.

Chief Aguene directed that the 2006 Ohanaeze By-Law should be used for the conduct of the election following a motion moved in the house to that effect by Nze Chidi Nwachukwu and was seconded by Chief (Dr) Vivian Obi.

The Chairman of the electoral committee, Chief Akubueze stated that Ohanaeze worldwide in Enugu cannot come to Lagos to conduct election and they must resist them.

 He cited the recent election, which was conducted abroad and was not conducted by the Ohanaeze worldwide and wondered why they would come to Lagos to conduct election for Ohanaeze whereas there are bylaws of Ohanaeze in Lagos State.

Chief Akubueze accepted to head the committee and assured that the committee will conduct the election successfully while asking for the cooperation of the members to do so.

The Legal Adviser, Barrister Onwughalu, urged the members to be prepared to face Ohanaeze worldwide because they cannot allow them to come and cause trouble in Lagos State Chapter of Ohanaeze.

The submissions were the views expressed by some members, who were present at the meeting and insisted that they will resist any group who want to break the peace and progress, which Ohanaeze Lagos had made since Chief Solomon took over as President.