Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Cruises Into Crisis

By Ifeoma Ikem

Another crisis appears to envelop the apex pan-Igbo social-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos as splinter groups begin to emerge one less than one year to another election.

At the centre of the controversy is the incumbent president of the organisation in Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, who is said to have delved into partisan politics by pitching his tent with Chief Joe Igbokwe and Eze Uche Dimgba faction of Ndigbo in APC Lagos.

Chief Aguene, was also accused of instituting an illegal and improperly constituted Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders Council, headed by Chief Oliver Akubueze, with the sole aim of stamping himself perpetually in office for a second term, contrary to the constitution and the agreed rotational presidency.

Another crime attributed to Chief Aguene was his purported plot to unconstitutionally review the group’s guidelines, to favour his desire and decision to stay two terms in office, at the detriment of Enugu State indigenes whose slot comes in April 2022.

While raising the above allegations, a prominent Igbo Son and Secretary of Ndigbo in APC, Hon. Temple Mba, Blasted Ohaneze President, over alleged factions springing up in the group and his reported negative comments about Igbo Community Centre.

Hon. Mba, who reminded Chief Aguene of the blessings and support of Igbo community centre towards his election as Ohanaeze Ndigbo president three years ago, warned him of the consequences of partisanship and brewing selfish factions, which he said was capable of smoking him out of office before his terminal date in April 2022.

“What we are saying is that Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene should start preparing his hand over notes for next year’s election and hand over to an elected Enugu State member.

“He should not hope to start another crisis that will consume him with the Oliver Akubueze and Uche Dimgba-led faction and the illegal Elders council that he horridly constituted when he was fighting a war of survival with the first Ohanaeze Ndigbo President, Chief John Uche.

“For all genuine Igbo sons and daughters, Igbo Community Centre, located at Okota, has been a place where Igbo sons and daughters converge to discuss Igbo activities and find solutions for the interest of Igbo residents in Lagos State.

The centre located at Nwachukwu drive-by Church bus stop in Okota, Lagos, where the Palace of Eze Ndigbo, Lagos State, Eze Christian Nwachukwu is located, has been in existence since 1999 before Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene came to Lagos and was commissioned by the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.”

Hon. Mba appealed to the traditional ruler of Igbo ethnic group in Lagos, Eze Christian Nwachukwu to forgive the ignorant claims by Ohanaeze President, Chief Solomon Aguene,  “that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo rented apartment at Surulere, Lagos, is the only place where Igbo decision is taken.”

He noted that Chief Solomon Aguene was totally ignorant and did not even know that Igbo Community had existed before the formation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which is a faction of the Igbo association under the Igbo community.

While giving a historical background, Hon. Mba explained that the Igbo community centre came in place after Eze Christian Nwachukwu, was elected and confirmed as the Ezendigbo Lagos State, by late respected Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ralph Uwazuruike, Eze Ilo Moanya and numerous monarchs from the South East, in the presence of late Oba of Lagos, Oba Oyekan.

According to him, when Eze Nwachukwu became the Igbo leader, he deemed it necessary to build the multi-million naira Igbo community centre where women, youths, men, market leaders and other associations come to have their meetings and take royal blessings over the years.

He wonders why Chief Solomon Aguene who also came to the Igbo community centre for blessing before he was elected Ohanaeze president will cast aspersion on the centre, which has existed and is well known by the prominent Igbo people and Lagos State government.

He further noted that Igbos have lived peacefully over the years until Solomon Aguene was brought to Ohanaeze three years ago and he started causing confusion for tenure elongation.

“Solomon Aguene has brought untold hardship and confusion to Ndigbo in Lagos State, he humiliated the man who brought Ohanaeze in Lagos State, Chief John Uche, sacked and never worked with his executives to enable him to corner everything that comes in, including donation meant for to the less privileged, widows etc. and created kangaroo elders committee in order to project his tenure against the constitution of Ohanaeze, he even dabbled into APC internal matter and appointed APC leadership to show how despotic he is but all his plans will crumble.”

Mba urged the Igbos to have patience because according to him, Aguene’s tenure will come to end by April 2022 and he must leave for Ndigbo to rebuild Ohanaeze in Lagos State.

He however warned that if Aguene continues to harass and intimidate Igbo people in Lagos State, including the traditional rulers from various local government in the State, the Igbos might not have the patience to wait for him to hand over by next year.