Will Unify And Bring Together Igbos Under One Umbrella, Says Chief Leo Okafor, President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Chapter

Will unify and bring Igbos together under one umbrella …Leo Okafor, president, Ohanaeze Lagos.

By Tony Udemba 

Chief Leonard Okafor, the current president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos , has dispassionately appealed to Igbos to join hands together in order to foster peace and unity amongst the Igbo community, to enable them  to speak with one indivisible voice.

 He stated that with a huge population and massive investments in Lagos, Igbos are making positive impact in the socio-economic development of Lagos State.  Addressing media reporters 

at well attended press  conference, held  in Lagos recently, Okafor 

strongly  advocated on the need for the Igbo community to renegotiate with their host community for a better understanding, peace and mutual coexistence of both communities.  He assured that his leadership will unity and foster peace amongst the Igbos in Lagos, even as he called on them to 

 eschew their differences, and join hands with him for the overall interests and betterment of the community. 

A brief introduction of whom you are?

The widely travelled international businessman, and former president of Alaba International Market Ojo , Lagos, stated that over the years, he had dedicated his life for 

has been in my DNA to serve and work for the advancement, interests, and overall well-being of Ndigbo. This was what informed my desire and willingness to seek the leadership position in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, and by the grace of God, I’m happy that  I  emerged victorious as the elected president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Chapter in

the just concluded election of our organisation on the 6th of April 2026.

What are your areas of attention, and indeed your key programmes as  the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos?

Firstly, it’s a known fact that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos is the big iroko tree and the umbrella body that unites all Igbo Towns’ Unions and community associations, including several Igbo related or affiliated groups and organisations that exists in Lagos State.

Therefore, the primary  responsibility of our leadership is to ensure that Igbos are united under a transparent and visionary leadership. There is no doubt that Igbos have a large population in Lagos, which can be  translated into something big if properly nurtured. Like I said, our number one priority is to bring all Igbos together to ensure that we all speak with an indivisible voice, and  common understanding. 

This will, no doubt, enable us to discuss and negotiate better with our host community and other ethnic groups in Lagos for the overall interests of our people, and for the overall promotion of peace, unity and mutual coexistence of Nigerians. Unfortunately,  the past four years were characterised by so much infighting, bickering, misunderstanding, and litigations, but with the emergence of our leadership,  we are set to reunite and reconcile everyone. The focus of my leadership is to ensure that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos returns to her peaceful days, where whatever we do will be whatever we agree, and when we talk,  we talk with one  indivisible voice. That is the essential thing that will define my leadership. 

Given the proliferation of various groups of Igbo extractions in Lagos, as well as some dissidents in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, 

how do you intend to achieve that?

Being a member of Ohanaeze since 2002, has afforded me the opportunity and enough time to understand the goings-on and what should be done to bring about the desired impact in Ohanaeze. Many years ago, when there was a serious crisis in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos,  I was the one that stepped in, and worked tirelessly to stabilise the organisation, brought everyone back, even when many had lost interest, and ensured that members embraced peace. Then, many people who heard about my intervention naturally returned back to the organisation. With a renewed spirit and vibrancy, an

 election was conducted later by the then General Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,  the late Chief Joe Achuzie. That election brought in the late Chief Nzewi as the leader, amidst noticeable divisions and rancour,  which later culminated in my parting ways with the group. No too long, i returned back.  After Nzewi’s leadership, Chief Akubueze followed,  and after him, Chief Onwughalu was voted in as the next president,  and as all these were playing out, I still remained active in the organisation. When Onwughalu finished his term, I contested and then won as the president of Ohanaeze Lagos, but another huge problem erupted again, which later made me to sacrifice my position, for the sake of peace. After that, Chief Solomon Ogbonna came in as the next leader. But, some years later, when Chief Sunday Ossai emerged as a factional leader, a bigger crisis took hold of the soul of Ohanaeze for a longer time, with no end in sight. But, it is on record that I was the one who single handedly brokered 

peace between Chief  Ogbonna and Ossai, the two warring factional leaders. With that, peace and unity have returned back to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos. In as much as there might be two or three dissenting voices, which is just a minute figure, over 99 % of members of Ohanaeze in Lagos are solidly behind my leadership. Before mediating between Solomon and Ossai, I proffered a few conditions which included that all our royal fathers must come together under one umbrella, that both members of Ohanaeze and the Igbo Speaking Community must join hands together, and that there should be proper recognition and respect for the two leaders. Today, I say glory be to God because peace has finally returned to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos. 

We are now working together,  including traders associations from various markets in Lagos, and that is why during my election, the majority of the traders and  members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, overwhelmingly voted for my victory. Like I keep saying,  my primary task is to bring together our royal fathers, members of the Igbo Speaking Community,  Aka Ikenga, Ndi Igbo Lagos , various Igbo traders’ associations,  town unions, Igbo Maritimes and other Igbo groups, into Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos. I want us to join hands together in rebuilding Ohanaeze in Lagos to ensure that we speak with one voice. Ohanaeze in Lagos must come back to the golden era of doing things together. My desire is for everyone Igbo man and woman, together with all Igbo organisations, to be involved in the affairs and programmes of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos. 

Togetherness  is our strength. 

Some people  say that Igbos are the most difficult to  lead, but I tend to disagree with them.  The truth is that if you are a good leader, with honesty and truthfulness as your core values,  Igbos will put their trust in your leadership. Therefore, Igbos are the easiest people to lead, as far as you are truthful and honest. 

How would your leadership foster a better relationship and mutual understanding Igbos and Yorubas?

Our leadership is not about chasing politicians and looking for crumbs. Instead, we are going to use our huge population in Lagos to renegotiate with the owners of the land, for the overriding interests and betterment of Igbos living in Lagos. In doing that, we are not going to claim that we are now  the owners of Lagos, or that we are bigger than the landlords,  or that Lagos is no man’s land.Certainly, no. Though, we have huge investments in Lagos. We are high stakeholders in Lagos. We are going to discuss with them,  show them our numerical strength, and even bring our own money to support them in what they are doing. We are not going to beg them for money like what some people did in the past. We have enough money to  support even in the political system and be involved in the scheme of things. Then we can negotiate for  political offices that we desire, and with such honest and sincere negotiations, something good may come out of it. We just have to be partners in progress. Generally, we know Yorubas as  people who welcome strangers well. We are not going to challenge them, we have to renegotiate with them as partners in progress. Things they don’t want, we must keep away from it. For example, if there is anywhere that is not approved for housing development,  we must learn to keep away from there. In anything we do, we must ensure to be law – abiding. 

With all these in place i am of the strong belief 

 that in the next few months there  would be  noticeable developments in that direction. 

What is your take on those who are  working against the interest of your leadership?

Honestly those involved are not up to 4 or 5 persons. One thing clear is that whatever bad intention they have,  such is too infinitesimal to derail the lofty programmes of my leadership. As a leader,  I had personal reached out to them , pleading with  them to come back in the interest of peace and brotherhood, but I’m yet to see any positive response from them. Anyway,  those were the people that took us to court. While we were at the Lagos State High Court, Yaba a few days ago,  the presiding judge, Justice  Balogun,  in her wisdom gave us two months to go and settle, given the fact that we are of the same ethnic group, and since the matter  touches on Ohanaeze. In furtherance to that, I have constituted a high level 12 – man peace and reconciliation committee, to take a dispassionate look into the matter, and get it resolved amicably. I believe that the final outcome from the committee would be favourable to everyone, and i would be more than happy to welcome them back to the fold. You know, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos is such a big umbrella that can easily accommodate everyone. 

What is the position of Ohanaeze national body on this matter?

About the middle of last year,  I travelled to the  national secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu, with Chief Ossai, Ozonweke and Pat Nwanze. We met with the Chief John Azuta-Mbata, President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and upon our discussions with him, he promised to come to Lagos to resolve the matter. When he eventually arrived Lagos, he listened to the warring factions attentively and studied the consent judgement Chief Solomon had presented, and pronounced that based on the consent judgement that  Solomon has the backing of the law to spend 4 years in office as the president, except if the consent judgement is vacated, and that was how Solomon’s tenure was legitimised. 

Again, another thing very important that 

 the Ohanaeze PG said in my presence while he visited was to direct Chief Solomon to conduct elections in  Ohanaeze Lagos before the end of his tenure in the month of April 2026. Several months afterwards,  that was exactly what Chief Solomon Ogbonna did, in absolute obedient to the directives of the PG, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and also in accordance with the Bye-Laws of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Chapter. 

I still recall that after the meeting with the PG, I

also advised them to abide by the consent judgement, even though I was in their camp. But, since they had a contrary opinion,  I left them,  but  continued to work on how  to make both sides to reconcile and embrace peace.    No matter how hard I, while trying to get the two sides to make peace, a few members of Ossai’s group had a different opinion, with no recourse to Ossai’s interest in the peace talk.

Given this scenario,  Ossai and Solomon later met, and embraced peace, and signed agreement to work together, and organise a joint election for a new executive.

In furtherance to this agreement, election was duly organised in accordance with the Bye-Laws of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos,  and I was overwhelming voted into office as the current president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos.

But 2 or 3 members of Ossai’s group, who abinitsio were against the peace deal, went to NEC meeting in Enugu, with fake leaders from Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos,  and manipulated issues that were never discussed  both at the national exco and ime obi meetings of Ohanaeze. The truth remains that our elections were never discussed nor cancelled by the highest decisions making organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide; the NEC and Ime Obi. Personally,  I have been in close contact with the national body, and have spoken with the national publicity secretary, who confirmed that our elections were never cancelled nor suspended by the national secretariat. 

If you ask from people at the national secretariat, they will tell you the same thing. That’s the true situation. 

What is your message to Igbos living in Lagos?

My message is that there is the urgent need for Igbos to come together as one indivisible people with common interest.

Before and at the attainment of independent  by the nation in 1960,  Ndigbo were one of the tripod legs that make up Nigeria. But today, nearly 66 years of post – independent, Igbos have been unfortunately  relegated to about the 7th position in the country. What that meant is that we have completely lost out in the scheme of things in Nigeria.  Even the commerce, we are well known for, is fast being taken away from us by the Chinese, Indians and Lebanese. 

Therefore it is time for the Igbo nation to come together under this umbrella, and renegotiate our way into the main stream. We have to look at where we are coming from, where we are, and where we want to be. And, in doing that we must be  very careful because if you look at the system in Nigeria, we are fast losing track. Unfortunately, all these are due to the failure of effective, impactful and visionary leadership, amongst us over the years.  I mean, an honest, courageous, purposeful 

and transparent leadership, with the capacity and willingness to speak for us, and also the readiness to carry us along in Lagos. 

All these are some of the things my leadership is focusing on to achieve in Lagos.