GOV. SANWO-OLU IS BEST GOVERNOR IN NIGERIA FOR INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE – SOLOMON OGBONNA; DISAGREES THAT IGBOS ARE DIFFICULT TO LEAD
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Governor, Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene affirmed that the interest of Igbos in the politics and government of Lagos has improved greatly under the tenure of Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. For this, he regarded the Lagos State Governor as the best Governor in Nigeria for 2020/21. He made this assertion with the Publisher of Trek Africa Newspaper and President of National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), Oki Samson at his Surulere headquarters of the socio-cultural organization.
Chief Solomon Ogbonna stated: ‘The best governor in Nigeria in 2020/21 is the Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu especially in his handling of the EndSARS saga. He is not a Major-General and not the IGP but he is using the grace of God upon him, the wisdom, humility, transparency, and human feeling to win the hearts of people. He displayed his feeling for the people by going all around sacrificially from place to place to speak to the youths and being diplomatic through all.’
Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene
‘The relationship of Ndigbo to go into politics and government is getting better because of his leadership. He is the best governor 2020/21 and it was shown by Vanguard Newspaper giving him the award and he really deserved it. There are others who came for the award that I can’t say anything about but I have experienced him, and I can say that he is a good friend of Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
When people say I talk passionately about Gov. Sanwo-Olu, he is not the only Governor that I know but the way he relates with me is good. When I call, he will answer with humbleness not saying ‘who is this person’. Even the enemies of good leadership cannot stand against him. Sanwo-Olu is untouchable.’
On the idea that Igbos are ungovernable, Solomon Ogbonna Aguene refuted: ‘This is what they say but it is not true. The leadership of any people is same though there are some that are democratic in nature like the Igbos, so you can’t intimidate them by fear to stop speaking their mind. Igbos are easy to lead. They are looking for a leader who will allow them to see, touch, and taste whatever you are showing them. But you have to know that in every 12, there is always a Judas and also that an enemy have their own contribution to your success because they will put you on your toes.’
Further, the cultural ambassador shared key leadership instructions. ‘Leadership is very simple. As a leader, you have to set example and give direction, this is how people will see you. Leadership is not even when you are in office but what happens when you have left. There are three major keys of leadership – test of sacrifice, transparency, and a good name.
Once you are transparent and your conscience is clear, you can lead anywhere. You will have engineers, bankers, economists, doctors, and other professional so what you do is to put everyone in their areas of strength. If you are a professor and become an ambassador to Saudi Arabia, you will become an illiterate because you need someone who can read and write Arabic so you don’t have monopoly of knowledge. You have to be loyal to the people because they put you there.’
He noted that leading the national body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is easier than that of Lagos state because you have more hands there and the Governors of the Southeast help. ‘The elder statesmen, professionals, captains of industry, come to meet you because they need you. It is your approach of sincerity of purpose and commitment and sacrifice that you execute that will make you have their interest and that of other Igbos. There is no group that you cannot handle like this.’
On the politics of Ebonyi, He expressed his willingness to see some billionaires like Ifeanyi Odii will accept and show interest in the leadership of Ebonyi come 2023 adding to the performance of the present Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, Ebonyi will become one among the best states in Africa. Chief Solomon Ogbonna further said that,
we Ebonyians are praying that God should give us someone like Sanwo-Olu. Ifeanyi Odii and Sanwo-Olu have similar character, they are great humanitarian. There is an adage that says; show me your friend and i will tell you who you are’, Sanwo-Olu and Ifeanyi Odii behave similar to each other.’
‘What Ifeanyi Odii is doing with his personal money in Ebonyi State and other states in Nigeria shows that if God gives him the opportunity to lead a state or country he will do great. With the prayer of the rich and poor in Ebonyi we believe that God will give us someone like Anyi chuks to continue with the transformation that is going on in Ebonyi State. He has shown great transparency in all he does.’
