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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu
The High Chief Leo Okafor led Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos chapter, has pledged deepened and sustained cordial relationships between the Igbo in Lagos and their host communities. The pledge was made during a General Assembly Meeting of the socio-cultural organisation, held at the Gbajabiamila Conference Hall, Lagos State University.
The meeting drew a galaxy of Igbo leaders from all the Local Governments and Development Councils in Lagos, Igbo elites, traditional rulers, political leaders, business moguls, community leaders, and stakeholders of the Igbo race resident in Lagos.
The event was more than a mere assemblage of Igbo kith and kins in Lagos, as it also provided a platform for comradeship and handshake across the Niger with a plethora of candidates of different political parties in Lagos who are of Yoruba extraction storming the venue, in their words, “to celebrate and rejoice with our Igbo brothers and sisters”.
Some of the candidates include the APC House of Reps candidate for Ojo Federal constituency, Hon. Bolaji Kayode Robert, NDC member representing Ojo Federal constituency in the House of Reps, Seyi Sowunmi, ADC governorship candidate for Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and member representing Ojo constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adebisi Olusegun Ege, among others.
In his opening remarks, Chief Okafor welcomed delegates and thanked the Ojo Chapter for hosting the meeting. He reiterated that one of his key agenda as president is to “deepen and sustain cordial relationships with our host brothers and sisters in Lagos State, in appreciation of their magnanimity and the peaceful atmosphere Ndigbo enjoy in the state”.
The assembly further reaffirmed its commitment to unity among Igbo groups in Lagos and mandated the state Executive to intensify engagement with host community leaders across the 20 LGAs in the state.
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Speaking to Daily Sun shortly after the event, Chief Okafor, who is a former president of Alaba International market and, also, former president, ECOWAS Trans Borders Traders Association, expressed delight at the turnout of members at the meeting and commended all those who made it a success.
“The meeting was hosted by Ojo local government chapter, so all members of Lagos State chapter of Ohanaeze from all the local government areas are here. The turn out was impressive and massive. All local government chapters came with their entourage, cultural displays, but, unfortunately, we could not accommodate all the displays because of time. I commend all those who made this meeting a huge success. I thank the Ojo Ohanaeze chapter and all Igbo leaders in the various chapters in Lagos for ensuring that the meeting was a success” Chief Okafor said.
The Ohanaeze leader explained that none of the political parties’ candidates who attended the organisation’s meeting were invited, but came on their volition to identify and rejoice with Ndigbo. He disclosed that though the Igbo group is not apolitical, it will look out for the interest of Ndigbo in Lagos in the 2027 elections, adding that its approach to the political process in Lagos will be devoid of sentiment and emotion. He said given that Lagos is a commercial hub where Igbo trade and earn a living, Ohanaeze will negotiate and get the best political deal for them in 2027, a deal, he assured, that will ensure that the Igbo are not outside the Lagos political calculus.
Chief Okafor said: “The position of Ohanaeze is that we will not allow anyone to use us as a platform to chase money or act as a political contractor. We are Igbo people and we are high stakeholders in Lagos. In Lagos, we are going to negotiate and get the best for our people, we won’t be at the periphery of action, we won’t be outside the ring, and we won’t be swayed by emotions or sentiments.
“We will get the best bargain for our people. People don’t fight where they are eating. We know that very well, and we know that it can’t be business as usual. We can have our different opinions, but where we are trading, where we are doing our businesses, where we are getting our daily bread comes first. We will make sure that we negotiate very well, we are not ready for porridge.
“We will invest in the process and we will be part of the process. All the town unions will come together, all the market unions will come together. Ohanaeze will come together, everyone that has a stake in Lagos will come together and sit down with the political actors to discuss and negotiate the best for our people.
“All candidates of some political parties that came here, today, came on their own to rejoice with us, no one invited them. They know that Igbo people are doing something, and they came to rejoice and celebrate with them, and we have to welcome them. You cannot say you will be out of the political equation; yes, we are not politicians, and that’s why I said we are going to negotiate with them and get the best for our people. Go anywhere in the world where Jews dominate the commerce and business environment, they are never outside the government. So, like the Jews, we can’t be outside the government”.
