NEW YEAR MESSAGE: GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RISK THE ‘ROD OF GOD’ IN 2023 IF… – OHANAEZE NDIGBO LAGOS PRESIDENT, OGBONNA • condoles with Ndigbos worldwide on Obiozor’s demise
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, High Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene
• says Igbos are ‘Jews by spirit and operation’ and should behave as Jews
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, High Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene spoke tough against Nigerian government officials who have conspired to make lives hard for the citizenry warning that if they don’t do well this 2023, ‘they will get the rod of God and end up miserable’. Chief Solomon Aguene sounded the harsh words in his New Year message delivered to Ndigbos in Lagos and all over the world.
Speaking exclusively to Trek Africa Newspaper, the head of the Igbo sociocultural organization, Solomon Ogbonna said: ‘What we need now is prayers. The government of this country knows they are not doing well. People are suffering. The money that a Senator will use to get a hotel room is what he will give to a community and tell them he has empowered them. You give people rice that they will share today and tomorrow, is that empowerment?’
‘Our government need to improve. When they are campaigning, they can pick your call but when they are in office, their number enter voice mail. They better do well this 2023 or they will get the rod of God and end up miserable.’
On the recent transition of late Amb. Dr. George Obiozor, Igbo statesman and President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene condoled with Ndigbos both home and abroad, ‘The death of George Obiozor is a big loss to Ndigbos. He has shown sincerity in all his endeavors.’
President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, High Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene
The culture icon suggested: ‘This should be a contact point for all Ndigbos to come together. Today we have no leader that we can say when he talks, everyone listens. The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is in the mortuary, his deputy is also in the mortuary. We have to look for a leader who will speak and people will listen, politicians should not just bring people who have been away for years, how many times have we held NEC meetings? This is a sociocultural organization and Igbos are republican by nature.’
‘We should also give young and vibrant people chance both in traditional and political institution. We should bring people who have energy, wisdom, and someone who can navigate to those who matters. Look at Ooni of Ife, Oba of Benin, Olu of Warri, they can go to the President and say what they need’, he told Trek Africa Newspaper.
Solomon Ogbonna had words for his kinsmen, the Igbos all over the world. ‘We must unite to get it right. You go close to a problem to solve a problem not hear from social media to talk. My message is that Ndigbos must come together if they want to get their rightful position in Nigeria. It is for them to organize themselves and I believe this my message will go far. First, we have to forgive ourselves of the wrongs of the past. We are prone to mistake but coming back in unity will give us our position in Nigeria. The Igbos have used their hands to destroy their own soil, Igboland is now ungovernable. We have beautiful houses that people go home every December but right now, people who have phantom would ride okada, keke marwa just to save their dear lives. If you are somewhere, it is when you reach home that you will say you are safe but right now in Igboland, it is when you are out of your home that you know you are safe. We must find solution and that is love, peace and unity among ourselves.’
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos added: ‘Igbos call themselves Jews and Jews don’t struggle for power, office, you work according to the Jews because they are blessed by God. If we call ourselves Jews, we must behave as Jews.’
‘If you go to Munich, those who produce Opel, Mercedes are Jews; if you go to Switzerland, those who produce Rolex watch, Tissot pullover are Jews; if you go to America, you find people who control leadership, they are Jews; in Budapest, Hungary, those trading in business are Jews; those who originated from Monaco, France are Jews. So we are Jews by spirit and operation not by colour or lineage’, Trek Africa Newspaper gathered.
On his indefatigable position as President of the Igbo sociocultural body in Lagos, Aguene affirmed: ‘With consent judgement, I am the authentic President. With that judgment, anybody who claims to be President is just mocking himself. If you want to see a Police man, you go to the barracks, if you want to see Ohanaeze Ndigbo, you go to the headquarters and that’s where I am. A policeman who doesn’t have a police station where he reports is a criminal, another person parading himself as Ohanaeze Ndigbo is wasting his time.’
