EZE JOHNGREG, EZE NWACHUKWU TAKES SWIPE AT CHIEF SOLOMON OGBONNA; SAYS SECOND TERM AMBITION, DIVISIVE ATTITUDE, OTHERS MAKE REASON FOR PETITION TO OHANAEZE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Eze Christian Uchechukuwu Nwachukwu JP, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos state and Eze John Greg
The war of words between the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene and his kinsmen in Lagos does not look like it will abate soon. This is because the Ezes that Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene accused of intention to divert funds of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has fought back. Two of the Ndi Ezes made their reaction known to Trek Africa Newspaper on separate occasions.
Eze John Greg, the main figure in the eye of the storm, revealed a WhatsApp chat he sent to the culture icon Ogbonna after he read the accusation in the media space. His response, ‘Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, you are just being petty like a disappointed call-girl who would cry rape rape to high heaven and hold on any cheap lie to sustain a fabricated falsehood.’
Eze Christian Uchechukuwu Nwachukwu JP, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos.
‘Your claim that Eze Johngreg demanded money from you is both reckless and irresponsible. You will recall that at the middle of Ndi Eze disagreement with your excesses, you called me on phone and we discussed at length. There was no sign in that lengthy telephone chat that portray me as one who has ever ever made financial demand on you.’
Eze John Greg added that Solomon Ogbonna is owing him N130,000 since 3 and half years ago. ‘He said I organized the others. Someone who has not been able to refund the N130,000 that he owned me before his election for over 3 years, 6 months is now the person I will go and demand N2 million from. It is very funny.’
President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene
‘When we discovered that the election that brought you Solomon to power not going to be free and fair, Ndi Eze in Lagos called for press briefing at Colonnade Hotel after which I requested the Deputy President DIG Opara (rtd) for the refund of N130,000 (I transferred from my company’s account to Ohanaeze account) to support my LGA for purchase of forms, I also copy the text to the then V/P Chief Charles Odunukwe but it is you Solomon Ogbonna that implored me to drop the the agitation for a refund with the promise to pay the 130k back to me.
If you could not fulfill the refund of that N130,000 until this moment, how then could it be possible for me to ask you for assistance. This is against common sense. You are just being shameless as you already destroyed the respect and dignity of the office you are occupying by your unending antics. I demand you apologize to me and withdraw this your falsehood within 48 hours failing which, no body will blame me if I publish the facts that I have about you’, the text of the WhatsApp chat released to Trek Africa Newspaper reads.
Eze John Greg
On his part, Eze Christian Uchechukuwu Nwachukwu JP, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos state emphasized: ‘I have been the leader of Ndigbos in Lagos state since 23 years ago. It started with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and I have been a part of making the Governors on behalf of Ndigbos.’
Continuing in the interview with Trek Africa Newspaper, he argued that the issue they have with Ogbonna is his quest for second term. ‘Ohanaeze Ndigbo byelaws says you have only one tenure to use and after that you leave. It has been shared by Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta, and some Igbo part in Rivers state. Some decided to give sympathy to Ebonyi because they have not been in the leadership of Lagos state before. Now he is running on the the Ebonyi leadership as President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, his tenure will expire in 5 months. He came here to my palace in Okoto, Lagos to kneel down and I blessed him with Princess Evelyn and John Uche. So he won the election. We saw him as a man who mean well for Igbos but he came after the election to say that he would like me and Eze Uwazurike, Eze of Ifako-Ijaiye to take him to Obas and Chiefs in Council.’
‘When we found out that he wants to hijack our platform for himself, we had to say no. I am not going to be fooled by a young man who doesn’t know what has been happening since 23 years ago. We advised that he can only do one term but it doesn’t augur well with him, hence he started using the Governor’s name all around. Nobody can push us to the background. I told him that if the Governor loves him, he can make him SA or Commissioner but this is something of community of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. His tenure is not comfortable for anybody including his state government. This is a community matter. If it is about 2023, another person that enters can continue to support the Government. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is one term. Even the national leader Nwodo did one term for four years. This is greed, if we agree for him, another person will come and think of third term. He has divided Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He has divided Ndi Eze. He also proceeded to create for himself a group he called Elders’ council.’
On the claim of Solomon Ogbonna to be no. 1 Igbo in Lagos, Eze Nwachukwu disagreed ‘He is not no. 1 Ndigbo in Lagos. What happens to Ndubuisi Kanu once a Governor, Ebitu Ukiwe once a Governor, or even Ben Akabueze once a Commissioner but because he does not know his left from his right, that why we put this in the petition. He deceives people. Afenifere does not claim no. 1. Miyetti Allah does not claim no. 1 citizen, yet he is claiming no. 1 Igbo citizen. Igbos know who their leader is. No Igbo man trust him. If I don’t say it now, people will blame me that why did I not say anything or do something about it.’
‘What we are pushing for is equity and fairness. Even if we lose this argument, tomorrow will judge us’, he concluded on the reason for their petition as he shared the copy of their petition to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo national secretariat with Trek Africa Newspaper.
It’s very unfortunate that Ndigbo Lagos state that were at peace before the advent of the present president Chief Ogbonna is now in disarray because of greed. I remember annually Igbo community Lagos happily went from palace to palace for the Iriji festival with all Ezes present, it’s painful to note that the glamour is fast fading under the leadership of Chief Ogbonna. If Chief Ogbonna’s brother is Jonathan to the governor of Lagos state ( the Biblical David and Jonathan ) who introduced him to the governor, will the governor remain in office perpetually, that made the president wishes to tactically change the password. A word they say should be enough for the Wise. No one can claim to be more Pius than the Pope.Ezes in Lagos state are institutions. Please we need peace in Lagos state.
On the issue of Ohanaeze chairman, Chief Solomon and the position of Eze Christian Nwachukwu. Chief Solomon should understand that the position of Eze Nwachukwu represents the majority submissions of Ndigbo in Lagos state. There is no justification whatsoever should Chief Solomon attempt to go for second term. We are going to resist it with every arsenal within our reach. He has played his own role well and fair enough to have been given chance in the first place to become the president of Ohanaeze in Lagos state.
With due respect, chief Solomon should respect the constituted principles that brought him to power and leave the stage while the oversion is loud. We the Igbo stake holders in Lagos will not lolerate any form of imposition or whatsoever in the well respectable leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos state.
There is no doubt, he may be eyeing the 2023 presidential election perhaps to remain in office to control the Igbo block and get his own gala shares. It will not work. I think there are more sensitive national issues on ground now to fix than for any sensible Igbo leader to be dragging positions of leadership. Solomon should rather think on how to unite Ndigbo more than trying to lord himself on us. There are visible divisions under his leadership within the ranks and file of Ohanaeze now than when he became the president. I was among the electoral delegates that minitored the election that brought him into power. We know all what transpired during the screening and election proper. That is not what matters now. All we are saying is that he should bow out peacefully at the expiration of his tenure in Office. There are lots of credible and tested individuals who understands our political and social positions now in the Nigerian circle. A change is inevitable to avoid the numerous errors of the past for now.
Rev. Rowland Nwachukwu N. Is the National Coordinator of Igbo Council of Christian Ministers.