By Richard Thomas
The Ezendigbo, Oyo State, His Royal Highness, Dr Alex Anozie has called for peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding ampong the various tribes and ethnic groups in the country in order to achieve a nation free of tribal and religious hostility.
Dr. Anozie made the call during his official Inauguration as President of Non Indigenes Traditional Council Ibadan, Oyo State (NITCIOS) at St Joseph Catholic Church, Rev’d Father Donald Hall, Oke Ado, Ibadan.
According to him, for the nation to move forward, the people need to understand the reason God brought the various groups and tribes to stay together, hence the motive behind the programme.
“It is high time we put aside our differences and come together as a people called by God to fulfill his purpose for creating the nation. We need to do the right thing in order to move the nation forward.
“As you can see, the Arewa, Yoruba, Igbo, Urhobo, Igede, Ebira, Akwa Ibom, and Igala are adequately represented in the programme, we saw the need to come together in order to move Oyo state and country forward.
Dr. Anozie who is the President of NITCIOS said the motive Behind the programme is to make peace reign supreme in the state and Nigeria as a whole.
According to him, all the tribes and various ethnic groups that make up the nation came together to form a body known as Non Indigenes Traditional Council Ibadan, Oyo State for the sole purpose of mitigating on issues which have to do with our peaceful co existence in the the state and country as a whole.
He advised the body to continue to be law abiding, love one another and do the right in the right way, just as he appealed to government to support the development in order to make it go round the country.
“The programme is aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence of the various tribes and ethnic groups in the state, we thank the host nation, Yoruba for their show of love.”
In his address, the president of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief (Barrister) Niyi Ajewole who led members of the council to the programme commended the NITCIOS President for the peace initiative, describing the occasion as a welcome development.
Chief Ajewole urged the members of the body to cooperate with the president and other members of the association in order to achieve peace and progress in the state.
Also speaking, Mogaji Asiwaju Nurudeen Akinade who represented the Chairman of Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Engr. Dotun Sanusi lauded the initiative of members of NITCIOS, saying the development will foester peace and understanding among the people of the state.
He said such initiative is what we need to sustain humanity, and make the people and state peaceful.” Though, they call themselves non Indigenes, I don’t call them such, they are part of us, because they are living together with us in the state. And I believe the initiative will bring about peace and development in our environment, he added.
The occasion had in attendance, the Obong Iberedem Akwa Ibom in Oyo State, Edidem Etim Bassey Akanyak (ARSM), the Baale Oluyole, Chief Yemi Ogunyemi, the leadership of the Urhobo, Igede, Igala, Ebira and others.
The programme which featured presentation of certificate of honour to members of the body also had cultural display by the Urhobo troupe and others.
