By Ubochi C. UBOCHI (JP)
The greatest problem of High Chief Sunday Ossai is his quiet, humble and credulous nature. He vied for the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos state and these attributes overwhelmingly handed him victory against others. Now that he is the President what next?
To lead Ndigbo anywhere in the world is not a child’s play. You need to be strong and very articulate. You need to be able to weather the storm. You need to navigate with the compass of humility but with firmness and strong leadership characteristics. If you listen to all and intend to please all, then you have huge challenge. Stainless as he is called wants to please everyone. He listens to all and tries to make everyone happy. Pleasing everyone should have been a good method but not when you are surrounded with desperate and selfish manipulators aiming at discrediting and ruining an organization you lead.
I have studied the characters of some members of our apex organization (Ohanaeze Ndigbo) in Lagos State and I can state that we have a big problem; desperation and selfishness is the common denominator. A situation where ones prefer to get a share (averagely N2000) as against fighting for the generality of Igbos is the norm which I don’t truly understand. Even if you get 1million and others get nothing how do you feel? How long will that take you?
Every 4 years especially during election cycle you see and hear all sorts of blackmail, propaganda and counter accusations; alignments and realignments. These power-hungry desperate individuals take extreme measures to position themselves and their cronies for the crumbs instead of presenting a united front that will get Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State the cake proper.The 2023 elections have thrown up an addition to the groups that usually shortchange Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State. Little of nothing has been heard about People of the South East Region (POSER) before August 2022. A Google search brings up nothing before August. This relatively unknown little group of self-seeking individuals that desperation and greed has so much eaten deep into their fabrics is headed by Mr. Everest Ozonweke; a wannabe that was rejected at the last Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State election. Mr. Ozonweke and his group have become so blind and doing everything possible to discredit and destroy Ohanaeze with illusion of replacing it with their group POSER. 
I had opportunity of speaking with Mr. Everest Ozonweke during his early stages of unveiling of POSER and we agreed that POSER will critically analyze governance in the South East (SE) geo-political zone; proffering solutions that we enhance living standard of the people of the SE. We agreed that POSER will be the “Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)” of the SE zone. I was supportive of that idea; little did I know that he was planning something totally different from the set goals he lied to me about.
I am truly saddened by the selfish path Mr. Everest Ozonweke has decided to tow especially as he has infiltrated and partitioned Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State and thrown the new leadership into crisis after crisis. Some elected members of the executives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State are staunched members of POSER and having agreed on sharing formula for whatever crumbs they get, opposes every step the President takes to move Ohanaeze Ndigbo forward.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State in my view must be more focused and understand that there is a calculated attempt to tarnish his image and bring him down; a clear example of the age-old adage “Give a dog a bad name and hang him”.  He should expect more booby traps and must not fall into them like he did hitherto. I have heard stories of embezzlement against the President which after investigations indicts those who concocted the story. The game going on is despicable and detrimental to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State and these selfish individuals must be made to face the music sooner than later.
Reliable information shows that POSER is recruiting former Chairmen of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State in the 57 LGAs/LCDAs. My advice to the former honorable chairmen is not to allow themselves to be used; how much will POSER give you that will change your life. Remember sharing formulas of expected inflows from politicians have been signed and sealed. Top promoters of POSER believe that the relatively unknown group will make them millionaires soon and I honestly laugh. The truth is that this group will fizzle out after the election and I recommend the minimum action of the President should be to sanction those promoting it and disparaging Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State. Why should an executive member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State be working assiduously to plunge the association into crisis while uplifting this inferior POSER group? In the POSER WhatsApp platform any mention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in positive light is met with fierce criticism and outright expulsion in some cases.
I however feel relieved because I trust an average Igbo man/woman. They are no fools. Politicians dealing with inferior groups will face protest votes. Ohanaeze Ndigbo remains the only association that will direct us. Thankfully we have representation and look up to the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State; High Chief Sunday Ossai for direction come election day. 
Finally the Igbo Cultural Celebration which took place earlier this month; precisely on the 2nd and 3rd of December respectively at Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island and Police College GRA Ikeja with Prof George Obiozor as Chief Host and High Chief Sunday Ossai as host truly showcased the similarities and uniqueness of the rich cultural heritage and intellectual capacities of the Igbos vis-à-vis our host and Nigeria as a whole. The different distinguished Igbo intellectuals and genuine business tycoons who were awarded in the Lecture and Award Ceremony of 2nd December, who pledged to join hands to reposition Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos are our heroes. We continue to give kudos to the founding fathers of Ohanaeze Ndigbo who left this legacy for us to follow.Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos is fast on its path to Re-positioning and Re-engineering.
Proudly Igbo!!!!!

Ubochi C. UBOCHI (JP) wrote from Lagos

Source: Drumnewsonline