SAYS CHIEF LEO OKAFOR IS DULY ELECTED OHANAEZE PRESIDENT, URGES AZUTA-MBATA TO RESIST MANIPULATION.

By Tony Udemba

The Deputy President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State Chapter, Nze Godwin Egboka, popularly known as Eze Eziokwu, has called on members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and all Ndigbo resident in Lagos State to disregard meetings purportedly being convened in the name of the organisation by individuals he described as having no mandate to do so.

Egboka, in an exclusive interview with OhanaezeLagosNews in the Satellite Town area of Lagos, specifically urged members of the Igbo community to distance themselves from activities allegedly being organised by Robert Obasi and Everest Ozonweke, insisting that neither of them had the authority to convene meetings or speak on behalf of the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos.

According to him, it was unfortunate that individuals were allegedly “masquerading under the name of Ohanaeze Lagos” while disseminating what he described as misleading information capable of creating confusion and division within the Igbo community.

“For the avoidance of doubt, and to clarify the misleading information being spewed by those envious of the renewed love and unity in Ohanaeze Lagos, elections into the leadership positions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State Chapter, including the office of the President, have already been conducted.

“High Chief Leonard Okafor, Oba Ojoto, emerged as the authentic President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State Chapter. He is the duly elected president and leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State. Anybody peddling a contrary narrative is being mischievous and, perhaps, envious of the massive grassroots appeal and followership enjoyed by the Oba Ojoto-led administration,” he said.

How Okafor emerged

Egboka recalled that the election which produced Chief Leonard Okafor was conducted under the leadership of the immediate past President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene.

He said the exercise attracted delegates, members and observers from across the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State, describing it as one of the most peaceful and credible elections ever conducted by the organisation in the state.

He said the election was conducted without the rancour, violence and disagreements that had characterised some previous leadership transitions within the organisation.

According to him, the emergence of the present leadership was the outcome of a process that was initiated by the outgoing administration in line with the established internal structure of the Lagos chapter.

Egboka also sought to distinguish between the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the bye-laws governing individual state chapters.

“Whereas Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, which is the apex body, has its own constitution, the various chapters of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, whether in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Rivers, the United States or elsewhere, operate under their respective bye-laws.

“These bye-laws provide guidelines under which every chapter operates, including the conduct of elections. Therefore, in accordance with the bye-laws of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, it is the responsibility of the outgoing leadership of the chapter to organise elections.

“It is certainly not the responsibility of the national body to organise elections for Ohanaeze chapters in Abuja, Oyo, Kano, Rivers or other locations,” he explained.

Azuta-Mbata’s peace initiative

The Ohanaeze chieftain also recalled the peace mediation undertaken in Lagos by the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Azuta-Mbata, between the factions associated with Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene and Chief Sunday Ossai.

Egboka said the meeting, which took place in 2025, was aimed at resolving the leadership dispute and restoring peace within Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos.

According to him, after listening to the contending parties and examining the consent judgment involving the dispute, Azuta-Mbata advised that Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene should remain in office and complete his tenure unless the consent judgment was vacated by the court.

He further said the President-General advised Aguene to organise a credible election towards the end of his tenure in order to ensure a smooth transfer of power and prevent a leadership vacuum.

“It will be recalled that sometime last year, Chief John Azuta-Mbata, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, came to Lagos for peace mediation between the Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene faction and the Chief Sunday Ossai faction.

“After listening to both parties and reviewing the consent judgment, the PG made it clear that, for the time being, Solomon remained president and should be allowed to serve out his tenure unless the judgment was vacated by the court.

“He also advised Solomon to ensure that elections were held towards the end of his tenure so that he could hand over to a new leadership and avoid any vacuum in Ohanaeze Lagos,” Egboka said.

‘Aguene followed the advice’

Egboka argued that Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene subsequently acted in accordance with that advice by organising an election before leaving office.

He described the exercise as peaceful, transparent and credible, saying that it ultimately produced Chief Leonard Okafor, Oba Ojoto, as the new President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State Chapter.

“Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene did exactly what he was advised to do. He organised a peaceful and credible election.

“There was no thuggery and no rancour. Delegates participated in the process, and at the end of the exercise, Chief Leo Okafor emerged as the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State Chapter,” he said.

The deputy president therefore appealed to the President-General of the worldwide body to maintain the position he allegedly took during his Lagos peace mission and support what he described as an orderly transition of power.

Appeal to Azuta-Mbata

Egboka urged Azuta-Mbata, as the leader of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, to ensure that the leadership crisis in Lagos did not escalate.

“Chief Azuta-Mbata should, as the apex leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and as a statesman, throw his full support behind the leadership of Chief Leo Okafor and bring an end to the activities of those working against the unity of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos.

“He should not allow the activities of individuals to rubbish his exalted position as President-General of the apex Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,” he said.

Egboka further appealed to the President-General not to allow himself to be “manipulated” by individuals whom he alleged were attempting to reopen a leadership dispute that had already been resolved through an electoral process.

“Mr President-General, sir, you should not allow Ozonweke and Robert Obasi to manipulate you into going against your earlier stand.

“You should not allow Robert Obasi, whose tenure as secretary has expired, and Ozonweke, who is not occupying any elected executive office, to drag your name into a controversy that could undermine the unity of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos,” he stated.

‘Ohanaeze Lagos is witnessing a new lease of life’

The Ohanaeze deputy president also spoke glowingly about what he described as the achievements of the Oba Ojoto-led administration since its emergence.

He said the organisation had witnessed increased membership and greater grassroots participation, adding that several programmes aimed at improving the welfare of Ndigbo in Lagos were being developed.

“Since Oba Ojoto was elected into office, the fortunes of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos have experienced an upward swing. Many good things are happening.

“New members are trooping into the organisation. The Oba Ojoto leadership has demonstrated capacity, commitment and willingness to take Ohanaeze Lagos to greater heights,” he said.

Egboka disclosed that the administration was also working on welfare-oriented initiatives, including plans to introduce insurance schemes for members.

He said the leadership was committed to implementing programmes that would directly benefit members and improve their welfare.

‘Let us unite for the sake of Ndigbo’

The Ohanaeze chieftain consequently appealed to those allegedly working against the unity of the organisation to reconsider their position and join hands with the current leadership.

He said the priority of every stakeholder should be the unity, welfare and progress of Ndigbo in Lagos rather than personal ambitions.

“I appeal to those working against the unity of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos to have a change of heart and join hands with Chief Leo Okafor for the greater interest of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Ndigbo as a whole.

“We must put the interest of our people above personal ambitions. What Lagos Ndigbo need now is unity, peace, development and a leadership that can bring everyone together,” Egboka added.

The deputy president maintained that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos could only achieve its objectives when its members worked together, urging all stakeholders to support efforts aimed at consolidating peace and strengthening the organisation at the grassroots.