L-R: Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Joe Igbokwe, former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Chairman, Eminent Senators Club of Nigeria (ESC), Monday Akunna, Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Osita Izunaso, and Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Tokunbo Abiru, at the banquet held recently in Lagos.
By Henry Nnaemeka
Prominent political leaders have led efforts to promote greater unity, cooperation, and harmony between the Igbos and Yorubas in Lagos State. They urged the two major ethnic groups to avoid pettiness and political bitterness, and instead focus on strengthening their bonds to create a common front. The leaders while emphasising mutual respect, harped on the need for collaboration and understanding across ethnic lines.
These calls were made recently when a socio-political group, Eminent Senators Club of Nigeria (ESC), hosted serving lawmakers of the National Assembly (NASS), political leaders of thought and captains of industry, in a banquet organised to honour politicians and federal lawmakers, Osita Izunaso, Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District.
The ceremony, which was recently held in Lagos, brought together leaders and representatives from both ethnic groups to explore avenues for increased collaboration and mutual benefit. Some of the other political leaders present at the event are Tokunbo Abiru, Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Musiliu Obanikoro, former Senator for Lagos Central, and Joe Igbokwe, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Izunaso, while appreciating members of the ESC for the banquet held in his honour, urged Ndigbo to support the President Bola Tinubu-led government. “I feel great that my people in Lagos have honoured me. This gesture will spur me to do more particularly now that we have a listening President in Bola Tinubu, who is working very well with the NASS to ensure that democracy dividends get to the people. That is the quality of the President many Nigerians don’t know about.
“We want Igbos to live in peace with the people of Lagos, and we want Nigerians to feel at home in any part of Nigeria. Because as we say in our anthem, ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand’, so we want to bequeath on our children a country that has no stain,” he said.
Senator Izunaso, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets and Institutions, urged Nigerians to learn from the display of unity and love shown to him by top political leaders from different ethnicities that graced the occasion. “A Yoruba senator is the chairman of a banquet held to honour me, an Igbo senator. The lesson Nigerians must learn from this is to unite with each other because we’re all one nation. We must work together as brothers and sisters so that we can forge a better country.”
Senator Izunaso addressing Igbos and Yorubas on the need to unite and love each other.
Chairman of the occasion, Senator Abiru, in his earlier address, described Izunaso, as not only not a colleague, but also a close brother and a dependable ally in the Upper legislative chamber. “When Senator Izunaso asked me to be the chairman of this banquet held for him, I gladly accepted the offer. He is one colleague in the Senate that I hold dear and respect because of his knowledge and deep understanding of the country. The Senate is an assemblage of people with very deep experience, and I respect the valuable contributions and experience Senator Izunaso brings to the Senate.”
The lawmaker and chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions, also commended members of ESC for their show of faith and regard towards their representatives. He described the forum as a reflection of what true democracy is all about, where leadership is brought closer to the people.
Also, Sen. Obanikoro, former Minister of State for Defence, stressed the need to mend divisions between Igbos and Yorubas caused by 2023 political activities. He urged the two tribal groups to purge themselves of the seeds of hate sowed by politicians and go back to the days when they used to break bread and find common ground.
He said, “I have reflected on what transpired during the last election. First, I’m going to say that our Igbo brothers and sisters, I want you to see yourself as a Lagosian. Those who are residents in the southeast are Igbos of southeast origin, and those of you based in Lagos, are Igbos of Lagos origin. Let’s start to define ourselves in that manner. So that Lagos interest will become your interest. This should be our primary focus.
“Igbos and Yorubas have come a long way. We shouldn’t allow politics or anything to destroy us. We can make Lagos a shining example of what Nigeria should be. We have that capacity, but we are allowing petty politics, and issues of no significance, to make us lose focus on what would add value.
“Let us address the possibilities, and put aside all insignificant issues. There is a saying that ‘Every mistake is an opportunity for a new beginning’. So the mistake of the past is an opportunity for a new beginning where we can build a bond that will stand the test of time, for the coming generations to sing our praises,” Obanikoro added.
Aside from preaching unity and love among ethnic groups in Lagos, renowned politician, Chief Joe Igbokwe, also charged ndi Igbo to brace up and get involved in contributing to the progress of communities in which they reside.
He tasked Igbos to approach politics with clear-eyed objectivity instead of unhelpful emotions.“I’ve been in Lagos for over 40 years so I know a lot, and I can tell you that Igbos have made serious investments in Lagos. So my advice to you is that politics is superior to economics. If you don’t play politics you and your business can go down.
“Be involved in what is going on where you live. Then please love where you are, love Nigeria, because our country is still one of the greatest countries in Africa. I encourage you to be at peace with people wherever you are. Please, where you work and live, claim that place. Be part of the progress of that place, but don’t forget where you’re coming from,” Igbokwe admonished.