Amuwo Odofin LGA advocates peaceful co-existence among tribes

By Steve Agbota

To foster peaceful coexistence between the Yorubas and the Igbos in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, residents of the community have been urged to work together to foster peaceful and harmonious co-existence in the community irrespective of their tribes.
The Vice Chairman of the Local Government, Maureen Ashara, said there was a need for collaboration to build a foundation for harmonious coexistence in Amuwo-Odofin.
She stated this during a meeting titled; “Dialogue for change: Exploring pathways to harmonious coexistence,” convened for Igbo residents in the area to meet with their host community with a view to ironing out issues that has strained the relationship between them.
“This event marks a significant step towards fostering unity and achieving lasting, political success in our beloved Amuwo Odofin LGA ad Lagos at large
“In a world that is often fragmented by division and discord, the theme of our event underscores the vital importance of dialogue. It is through open, honest, and respectful communication that we can bridge divides, understand different perspectives, and build a foundation for harmonious coexistence. Today, we gather not as representatives of opposing sides, but as members of one community committed to the collective good.
“The challenges we face are not insurmountable. With mutual respect and a shared vision, we can address our differences and work towards common goals. We must remember that the strength of our community lies in its diversity. By embracing our varied backgrounds and experiences, we can create a more inclusive and resilient society.”
She said she called the meeting for reconciliation and brought the aggrieved people together after the election, adding that the Igbos are angry while the Yorubas are also angry.
She said the major problem is that the leaders don’t have relationships with the community, people and residents in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, saying that is why leaders are getting things wrong.
She said the meeting would be held every three months to dialogue to solve the common problems among the Amuwo Odofin community.
Meanwhile, the moderator/organising committee, Chief Afam Chukwuma, said the idea of the dialogue is to bring about healing and reconciliation.
He said there was a need to encourage the Igbo people here because they have contributed to the economy of Lagos State.
“We also believe that Lagos State has been fair to us Igbos in terms of giving us an enabling environment to do business. So we need to further deepen this relationship, make it more cordial, benefiting from each other and growing not just Lagos economy but Nigerian GDP at large,” he said.