SOLOMON OGBONNA PRESENTS SPECIAL AFRICAN ARTWORK TO LAGOS DEPUTY GOV., SEES SANWO-OLU AND HAMZAT ‘AS TWINS IN THINKING AND LEADERSHIP STYLE’
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat with the President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene during the President’s Courtesy Visit to the Deputy Governor at his resident in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene has gifted a special African artwork to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for his sterling character and display of support to the entire Ndigbo community in Lagos. This honour was done during the Eid-el-Maulud public holiday that held earlier in the week.
Speaking in a brief chat with Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper at the presentation, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene shared: ‘God knows that everything is not about money but no matter how little they have done for us in Lagos, I appreciate it. That’s why I am here. That’s why I do what I do. That’s why I am giving the same artwork I gave to the Governor on his birthday to the Deputy Governor on this Eid-el-Maulud. The sense of belonging that they have shown to Ndigbos is great. I see them as twins in their thinking and leadership style. Whatever I can give to the Governor, I can as well give to the Deputy Governor.’
Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat (2nd left); President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene (2nd right); Member, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Mrs. Vivian Obi (left) and Public Relations Strategist/ Publisher, Trek Africa Newspaper, Oki Samson (right) during Chief Solomon Ogbonna’s Courtesy Visit to the Deputy Governor at his resident in Ikoyi, Lagos.
‘African artwork is one of the best monuments you can give to anyone as present. One of the biggest things about it is that the personality and his position determine the value of the artwork not even the artist. For example if Bill Gates collects an African artwork and wants to auction it, it is only billionaires that will be able to afford it. Secondly, as the artwork stays longer, the value also increases’, he added.
On the good working relationship between the duo of Governor of Lagos, Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, he noted: ‘Irrespective of religion, I have not seen a Governor and Deputy Governor in Nigeria that are so close to themselves like Gov. Sanwo-Olu and Dep. Gov. Hamzat. So I always think of what I can do to show my deep appreciation and love for them and to show that they are friends of Ndigbo in Lagos.’
L-R: Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and the President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene during the President’s Courtesy Visit to the Deputy Governor at his resident in Ikoyi, Lagos.
‘People ask me what I am gaining from what I am doing to the Governor of Lagos and I begin to count how in the past, area boys molest my people in Lagos and how our people see APC as outcast and PDP as religion upon all the suffering they are going through in Lagos. But today those that are Ndigbos in APC in Lagos are more than those in PDP or any other party. I can say that I have achieved more than other Ndigbos Leaders that worked with Gov. Ambode and Gov. Fashola.
My tenure has been more effective and successful because my people are happier and are submitting themselves more to the government of the day in Lagos. Personally I have not acquired much but what they have given to me is something that no one can buy. This is the interest and love they have shown to me.’
Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat (2nd right); President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene (right); Member, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Mrs. Vivian Obi (2nd left) and Public Relations Strategist/ Publisher, Trek Africa Newspaper, Oki Samson (left) during Chief Solomon Ogbonna’s Courtesy Visit to the Deputy Governor at his resident in Ikoyi, Lagos.
On the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Anambra state, Chief Solomon Aguene praised Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for hosting Andy Uba at the Lagos State House, ‘The good gesture that the Governor showed on Sunday, October 17 by hosting Andy Uba and his campaign team to the State House shows that he wants us to have an APC Governor in Anambra state as well. If Anambra emerge with APC like it is at the centre, it will be good’.
