“Peace Is Difficult but Necessary”: APC Leader Hails Ohanaeze Dispute Resolution in Lagos
By Clement Odum
Chief Solomon Sunday Chukwu (Solochus), APC chieftain in Agege/Alimosho, speaking after the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Lagos dispute resolution meeting held on Saturday.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Chief Solomon Sunday Chukwu, popularly known as Solochus, has expressed cautious optimism over the recent resolution efforts in the leadership dispute rocking Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Lagos.
Speaking after the dispute resolution meeting held on Saturday between the factions led by Chief Solomon Ogbonna and Chief Sunday Ossai, Chief Chukwu said the process marked an important first step toward lasting peace within the Igbo socio-cultural organization.
According to him, “A journey of a thousand miles must start with a step. The truth is that the Igbos have taken a step today, and I believe that one step at a time we will get there. Peace is difficult, but it is necessary. The price of peace is far cheaper than the price of chaos, anarchy, and disunity.”
On the future of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Lagos State, the APC leader described it as bright, emphasizing the organization’s central role in uniting the Igbo community.
“If you are an Igbo man, Ohanaeze simply means the Igbo community. Oha means the people, while Eze means leadership. It is an avenue for us to come together and speak with one voice. There is no other way to succeed except through unity,” he said.
Using a metaphor to stress the importance of collective strength, Chief Chukwu added that while a single snake can be killed easily, two snakes together command fear and respect, noting that this principle captures the essence of Ohanaeze.
Reacting to the outcome of the meeting, he said satisfaction would be determined by actions rather than words, stressing that commitments made must be upheld.
“I am of the school of thought that a man should be judged by his word. If he says one thing today and another tomorrow, then that is a different matter. For now, we believe them by what they have said and hope it will stand,” he stated.
Offering prayers and advice to the warring factions, Chief Chukwu called for unity among Igbos in Lagos, noting that they constitute the second-largest ethnic group in the state after the Yoruba indigenes.
“There was a time when Igbos produced four House of Representatives members and two members of the Lagos State House of Assembly. These were elected positions, not appointments. That shows our strength in Lagos. We can only achieve such progress again if we are united,” he said.
On whether the leaders involved in the resolution process are dependable, he remarked that while humans are prone to change, collective commitment to a shared agenda is what sustains organizations.
“No human being is God. People change with situations and events. But when you come together as a group, you must hold firmly to your common agenda. That is the essence of Ohanaeze,” he added.
Chief Solomon Sunday Chukwu, who is the Otun Amuludu of Agege and Eyi Nwa of Obosi Autonomous Community in Anambra State, also spoke on politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As an APC chieftain in Agege/Alimosho and Director of Ethics in the Mandate APC caucus, he expressed confidence in the ruling party’s future.
“APC remains the party that will govern Nigeria for many years to come. We made some mistakes at the beginning, but we have corrected them. That is what leadership is all about,” he concluded.
