Nze Edwin Egboka, is the Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Ori-Ade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), who believes in Igbo culture and tradition and would promote it at every opportunity. Nze Agboka who belongs to the main Nze na Ozor traditional setting in Orlu constituency, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo state believes that High Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene has the capacity to move Ohanaeze Ndigbo forward and therefore should be supported. He spoke to the publisher of Unique Model Magazine, Felix Mbata.
Excerpt:
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Nze Edwin Egboka, is the Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Ori-Ade Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
We observed a new thing in Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Lagos meeting today, 30th July, 2023, that Igbo Masquerade came to meeting, and you are responsible for that, what inspired your decision?
Okay, I believe in culture and tradition and that is my hobby, when I was the zonal chairman of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in 2016, I made the Igbo day that made people happy under Amuwo Odofin with this masquerade and traditional women dance, the women dance is from my Oriade LCDA, the masquerade is my hobby even when I was in the opposition, fighting with High Chief Solomon Aguene at the end of the day, we came together to support him.
I have done the Igbo day more than seven times with masquerade and my women leaders traditional dance, I have in culture, even my community in Imo state, Orlu constituency, Orsu local government town, they know me with that. I am the youngest Akatapo, when I say Akatapo, I mean when you talk about Masquerades.
People will come and meet me, that was by inheritance, from my forefathers. So, I believe in tradition, and my cap today is not what I bought by myself from market, it is by inheritance, the ‘Nze na Ozor’, they have levels of Nze na Uzor, I came from the main Nze na Ozor which believe that we cannot deceive yourself, so that is the reason why you see this masquerade today. I hope to have the Igbo day in November time, when you come that day, you will see more masquerades in the Igbo Day November 2023.
According to your statement, you said there was a time you were against high Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, what attracted you people back to him?
While we were against Aguene at the end of the day, we found out that Aguene is a person that we can relate with, he is the person that will tell you the truth, we were against him, we were the people that called him, to make sure that he moves the Ohanaeze Lagos state forward. So we contributed a lot, we were the people that went to court against him but at the end of the day, we came together, that is why we are here today to show our support to him to move Ohanaeze Lagos state forward.
How do you describe the celebration of Sanwo-Olu’s re-elected victory, his administration and inauguration of the new executives of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Lagos State?
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is a kind of person that has a good reputation with Ndi Igbo in Lagos state, we believe that with High Chief Aguene leadership, he has given us what we need in Lagos state and that cooperation with Ndi Igbo in Lagos State. So, Sanwo-Olu is our man, I believe that.
What is your message of appreciation to High Chief Solomon Aguene over the good things he is doing for Ndi Igbo in Lagos state?
He is my person, like I always say, when we were in the opposition, we were the people that took him to the court, at the end of the day, we have to make peace with him to ensure he moves Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Lagos forward. He is trustworthy, reliable and he is taking Ohanaeze Ndi to stardom.