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By Kehinde Aderemi
Veteran journalist, author and activist, Richard Akinnola recently marked his 67th birthday in Lagos with a summit, with the theme “A handshake across the Niger: The Yoruba/Igbo detente.”
The event was held at the Osun Hall of the Airport Hotels in Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday September 13. It brought together friends, journalists, comrades, rights activists, and like-minded professionals to discuss the burning issues of Yoruba/Igbo relationships and seek lasting peace and unity. Many guests praised Akinnola for his decades-long contributions to journalism and activism.
Aare-Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, chaired the event, while notable attendees included keynote speaker C. Don Adinuba, former Commissioner for Information in Anambra State; lead discussants, Adewale Adeoye, West African Regional Secretary of the International Alliance on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of Tropical Forest, Wale Adedayo, former Chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government; journalist and public affairs analyst Kingsley Obom-Egbulem; and former Deputy Head of Gani Fawehinmi Chambers, Nnaemeka Amaechina
In his opening remarks, Akinnola emphasised the need for unity and peace between Yoruba and Igbo as part of Nigeria’s larger ethnic nationalities. He cited his experiences over the years, highlighting the importance of discussing fundamental issues affecting the two ethnic groups.
Akinnola shared a story of how he prevented a potential ethnic crisis during the EndSARS protests by mobilising people and sharing reactions from the Igbo community condemning violent acts.
“In the past couple of weeks, I have been posting several issues of this nature on my Facebook page which I think is necessary for us to stem the tide of ethnic divisions and crisis within major tribes in Lagos, the Yoruba and the Igbo. This is part of our own effort on how we can reduce the tension and the violent rhetoric.
“My birthday was actually in August, but on every birthday, if I don’t do lectures, I come up with a book. The reason for this is to deepen the conversation on how we can de-escalate the tension within these ethnic groups. That is why I am doing my best to make people understand that God has a purpose for somebody to be born in a particular ethnic group. Nobody begged to be born in a particular place.”
Aare OnaKakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, was represented by the National General Secretary of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Babajide Tanimowo. In his remarks, he stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence among citizens for national unity.
He said OPC under the leadership of Iba Gani Adams has been at the vanguard of promoting peace in Nigeria, urging that peace and unity of every nation is tied to the ability of the citizens to learn to live in peaceful coexistence with one another.
“As much as we believe in Yoruba ideology, we should learn to live in peaceful coexistence with one another,” he said.
Keynote speaker, C. Don Adinuba, spoke about the need for peace and unity among ethnic nationalities, citing his personal experiences and the generosity of Yoruba people during the civil war.
“Things were so bad then that, as little children, we were eating rats and lizards. There was a particular Yoruba woman who was a refugee at our place who fed us, alongside her children, with yam. I find Yoruba people very trustworthy. Yoruba and Igbo people have many things in common.
“I am a strong believer in unity and I have benefitted immensely from my relationship with the Yoruba. The late Doyin Okupe was one of the few Yoruba that had impacted my life positively. He was a detribalised Yoruba man and in his life; we were so close like brothers from same parents. My landlord in Lagos showed me unusual love. Yoruba and Igbo people should continue to share that kind of love and unity.”
Other speakers, including Adewale Adeoye and Nnaemeka Amaechina, emphasised the need to transcend ethnic divisions and build unity through practical steps.
While urging the youth not to allow politicians to use them for tribal and divisive purposes, Adeoye said: “During the End SARS, while we were busy trying to calm the nerves of those trying to escalate it on tribal lines, politicians and political parties did nothing to calm nerves.
“The social media has caused so much harm to friendship. We cannot allow politicians to divide us. I don’t know tribe or gender when I relate with people. The fact that some made stereotypical statements does not force you to flow along that line. We need to stop the stereotype. That was what caused the Rwanda war. I feel pain when I see violent rhetoric when we are married across tribal lines.
“We need to elevate our thoughts and relationships beyond stereotypes. We need to identify the perchance of chaos. We also need to have a committee of Igbo and Yoruba. The government is doing nothing to mend fences about the ethnic crisis. Building unity requires practical steps to boost the relationship between Igbo and Yoruba,” he stated.
A lawyer and former Deputy Head of Gani Fawehinmi Chambers,Nnaemeka Amaechina, described Richard Akinnola as a detribalised Nigerian.
He likened Akinnola to his former boss, the late erudite lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who in his life was a symbol of peace and unity.
“We can always achieve the best for ourselves as individuals and for Nigeria as a whole if we are not tribalistic. A detribalised Nigerian is the one who can preach unity and peace across the country.
Mr Kingsley Obom-Egbulem, urged Nigerians to learn from the mistakes of the past and be determined to change the ugly narratives.
“We must be intentional about the united Nigeria we are praying for. I have never been afraid like I am now since 2023. What brings us together is the love that we have and we make sure we sustain it,” he stated.
The event came alive with the cutting of the cake and the presentation of Akinnola’s latest book.
