“Igbos Must Be United, Brothers Keeper” —- Says Chief Sunday Ossai, Onowu Everest Ozonweke,Prince Chuks Emechebe, As they Inaugurate Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oriade Chapter

By Emmanuel Edom

Igbos in Lagos State have been enjoined to stay united, speak with one voice and be their brothers keepers.

This calls were made last week Saturday, March 9,2024, by the President,Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State chapter, Chief Sunday Ossai, along side the Coordinator for South West,Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide ,Onowu Everest Ozonweke and another prominent Igbo leader and former Chief Security Officer, CSO, Balogun Business Association,BBA, Prince Chuks Emechebe, at special inauguration of the authentic Oriade LCDA,Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chapter, lagos State.

The Igbo leaders who spoke in unison, insisted on the importance for Igbos across the country to be united and speak with one voice for the progress of the Igbo nation.

Prince Emechebe, who was the Chairman of the Occasion, also called on Igbo parents to teach their children Igbo language and culture.

Their Calls was supported by the Deputy President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos state, Chief Sunnex Ohanazoeze, know also as ‘Agujiegbe’, who called on High Chief Victor Nnotum new leadership to bring back into the fold, any splinter group that may have strayed out of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Oriade.

Chief Ohanazoeze,corrected what he called erroneous impression about factions in the Pan Igbo Socio -Cultural Organization,  pointing out that there is only one Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos state and one Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide , led by their President General, Chief Engineer Emmanuel Iwuanyawu.He also commended the South West Coordinator Chief Everest Ozonweke for finding time in his busy schedule to attend the event.

He said, ” Every igbo person is automatically a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,as Ohanaeze Ndigbo is to the Igbos what Afenifere is to the Yorubas.Try and bring back any splinter group in Oriade back to the fold.Igbos must know that In Ohanaeze Ndigbo, leadership is a single term of four years and there is only one Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State “

Speaking, the newly appointed South West Coordinator, Onowu Everest Ozonweke, who praised the success of Chief Engineer Emmanuel Iwuanyawu’s efforts since his election as the apex Igbo Leader, expressed joy at the huge gathering comprising of Igbo leaders who hitherto had different allegiance, which he said was an indication of peace and unity.

For the Organizers,it was a dream come true and end to unnecessary bickering, selfishness and directionless leadership in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oriade LCDA , as they jubilated that Igbos under purposeful new leadership of High Chief Victor Nnotum and his executive, have been inaugurated to steer the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Oriade LCDA, lagos State.

In his speech, Chief Nnotum, popularly known as ” Udobata Na Ekwe”, said that there is need for all Igbos in Oriade community to show interest and support the organization.

This he noted would change the negative mind set of other ethnic groups about the Igbos in the area.

Dwelling on progress of the Igbos, he noted that there will be no progress without fairness, justice and equity, which he maintained propelled his group to seek for the recognition and incorporation by Chief Sunday Ossai led authentic Ohanaeze Ndigbo, away from their former allegiance, where he pointed out that they incubated for two years.

While pledging what he called total and unshaking allegiance to Chief Sunday Ossai led Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, Nnotum, expressed appreciation and their gratitude to Chief Ossai and his secretary, Chief Robert Obasi, for the prompt approval granted to their application to join the organization.

Chief Nnotum speech was applauded and supported in the various interviews granted by his Deputy, Chief Odiegwu Chidi Pius, also known as ” ichie Ogbuefi Ifeadikanwanne” ;Woman leader, “Ochiora”, Chief Mrs Florence Nnakaife; Youth Leader, Chief Chinedu Okafor,aka “Mmili Malu Ugo” and other members of the new executive.

The new Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Oriade Chapter Executive who were sworn in besides the Chairman, Deputy, Woman and Youth leader are : Secretary – General, “Okaka” Juventus Uche Okpara; Deputy Woman Leader, Mrs Francesca Ifeoma N. Okadigbo; Publicity Secretary, ‘Ezenwanyi’, Chief Mrs Joyce Kennedy Mbachu, “Ada Oriade”; Treasurer, High Chief Okechukwu Ekweozor,” Onwa Mmeme Atuegwu”; Vice, Anambra State, Chief Joe Igwilo, ” Udoamaka N’ Oriade”; Vice, Imo State, Mr. Vitalis Olariche Kings ; Vice, Enugu State, High Chief Ethelbert A. Agunwayi,” Obama Uno Adimma”; Matron, Ezinne Amaka Nwizu Chinanwata; Provost, Obiekunie Ogochukwu Kingsley, ” Kestin”; Welfare 1, Ifeoma Jennifer Nwagwu; Welfare 2, Lolo Ekwe elem Ann Chidiebere and Welfare 3, Ikechukwu Raphael Akpunonu.

Some of the guests at the event were the Secretary Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief Robert Oasis, President General,Apex Association Of Anioma Indigens, Apostle Patrick Nwanze JP, Agu Anioma, Prince Raphael Chukwuakalikamadu , Chief Anayo Emmanuel Ohaegbu ,”Ezinwannedinamba Na Oriade” , Ex Youth leader,Obioha Okonkwo, Lolo Osodieme,Mrs. Stella Chinelo Onyekere, Dim Ebere  Nnakaife, Dim Ugogbuzuo Na Umudim – Ukpor,and other Igbo Chieftains  numerous to mention , while his Majesty , Eze Udo Oriade LCDA,Eze Chimereze, Emmanuel Chukwuakalikamadu, was publicized as the Royal Father of the Day.

Earlier, Apostle Patrick Nwanze officially commenced the event with an opening prayer, which was followed by the Ohanaeze anthem led by Chief Obasi, while the newly inaugurated Chairman,Chief Nnotum,prayed over and presented the traditional Igbo kolanuts  to the Chairman of the Occasion, Prince Emechebe, who in turn handed it over to Ohanaeze Ndigbo President,Chief Ossai.

Guests were entertained by Ohanaeze Oriade women dance group, traditional Masquerade music dance group and Igbo vibes from the dis Jockey, DJ, while assorted foods and drinks were not in short supply .