From Ifeoma Ejiofor
A Lagos-based businessman who is also the current Ezedioramma Eze Ndigbo in the Yaba/MainLand axis of Lagos State, Chief Godwin Njubigbo Amb, JP, has been nominated by the people of Aboji Akanano in Oba town of Idemili South LGA in Anambra State to contest for the vacant seat of the Igweship stool of Oba.
The business man will contest along with other contestants from other villages in an election being organised by Oba town union to elect a new traditional ruler following the exit of the late traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty Igwe P.C Ezenwa popularly known as Eze Okpoko 1 of Oba.
Presenting Chief Njubigbo to journalists in Oba, the chairman of Aboji Village, Nze Dozie Nweke, stated that each of the nine villages in Oba except one village is expected to field one candidate for the election to elect the next Igwe of Oba.
Nze Nweke explained that there were three people that indicated interest to stand for Aboji in the Igweship race namely. Chief Sunday Agulefo, Chief Godwin Njubigbo and Nze Lawrence Muonwe who is based in United States but along the line Nze Muonwe withdrew from the contest leaving the contest for Agulefo and Njubigbo which Njubigbo eventually won.
Nze Nweke said that in Chief Njubigbo, Oba will be well pleased because he has what it takes to serve Oba creditably well as Eze Okpoko 11 noting that the Eze Ndigbo of Yaba/MainLand axis is Lagos has acquired a lot experience both in business and in leadership.
“What I am saying is that Aboji Akanano has come forward with what Oba is looking for. I mean a quality candidate needed to take up the mantle of Eze Okpoko 11, so I am appealing to other villages to toe the path of Njubigbo because he is okay for the stool.
Chief Njubigbo in his speech thanked the people of Aboji for given him the opportunity to test his popularity along with other candidates from other villages.
He promised that as the Ezeidoramma of Yaba and Lagos MainLand for some years now, he will use his experience in leadership to build a new regime based on the massive legacies of Eze Okpoko 1 if elected most especially in the areas of making Oba respectable and attractive to the out side world, ensuring security, peace and continued rapid development of Oba.
He added “the legacies of Eze Okpoko are known to be security in making Oba a destination for the people from far and near to come to Oba and do business, ensuring security, peace and development in Oba and that is what I am coming to do. I will follow the footsteps of Eze Okpoko 1 in carrying all the villages along and ensuring that the name of Oba remains attractive and respectable to the outside world”