Abia State Chapter of Yoruba Community Development Association has hailed the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for ensuring that all Nigerians doing their various legitimate businesses in Abia do so without any form of discriminatory actions against them.
President of the association, Comrade Babatunde Olatunde while speaking to newsmen in Aba after the end if their meeting in the year 2020, urged all Nigerians to appreciate God for guiding them in the troubled year.
Olatunde called on all Nigerians no matter their tribe to eschew all forms of tribal discrimination and work towards the unity and peaceful coexistence in the country.
“2020 is one year full of troubles that will remain documented in the hearts of all those who witnessed and survived it. We survived COVID-19, we survived other issues and it’s a sign that God is with all of us here.
“You’re aware of the challenges our country is currently facing & to be sincere with you, this is when we should appreciate peace more than ever and it’s also when we should call for more peace.
“As Yoruba People residing in Abia, we want to use this opportunity to appreciate Abia State Government ably led by Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (PhD) for the peace in Abia State.”
Olatunde who said that the whole world is yet to recover from the economic damages caused by Coronavirus stressed that it only a peaceful country with a peaceful business atmosphere that can easily recover and reposition its economy.
“Talking more about peace, there’s one mistake some of us are still making in Africa about who’s our brother and friend which we must correct.
“Some of us still see our brothers as only those who share blood relationship and speak same language with us. That’s not true. I’m happy the Government of Abia State is not making that mistake.
“Anybody who lives with you peacefully, welcomes you with open heart, shares positive ideas with you, treats you fairly, obeys the law of the (your) land, hears your cry when you’re disturbed and gives you a level playing ground in a land far from yours is your brother.
“That’s why we’re here today to thank Abia people for maintaining peace with us, we thank the Governor for hearing us when we called, for giving us listening ears when we least expected it. That’s love. He’s our brother and we’re his people.
“If all Governors in Nigeria will emulate the accommodating spirit of Dr. Ikpeazu, it’ll be difficult to differentiate Abeokuta from Umuahia or Benin from Jos because anywhere you go will be like home.”
He assured that all Yorubas in Abia as usual will remain law abiding, continue to do their businesses peacefully and pleaded with Ikpeazu to continue with his accommodating lifestyle so that it will spread round the entire nation.
Olatunde noted that the accommodating leadership of Ikpeazu’s administration is capable of attracting investors into Aba just like Lagos State where every Nigerian go to do their businesses, compete favourably without any fear of discrimination and harassment.
“Go round Aba today, you’ll see people from different parts of Nigeria even from West Africa, buying and selling peacefully. That’s the kind of thing we are here today as Yorubas to appreciate. And that’s what we need to recover fully from what Covid-19 caused us.
“As we approach the end of this year, we pray for our Governor, we wish him well and all those working with him and we urge all of us Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and other ethnic groups in Abia to always use the peace we’re enjoying a point of contact to other states. It’s worthy of emulation.”
He vowed that him and his excos; Kolade Tijani, Secretary General, Tunji Jerome Olowohunwa, BOT Chairman, Mr. Samson Oladeji, Chairman Elders forum, Yetunde Ademilua, Woman leader, Samsudeen Aramide, Assistant W/leader and Raji Ademola, PRO will continue to guide Yorubas right in Abia
Deacon Sampson Oladeji, Chairman, Elders Forum, Yoruba Community Development Association, Abia State Chapter said that since many years he has been transferred in his working place from Lagos to Abia, he had never had any reason to regret coming to Aba.
Elder Babalola Biola Juniors, a BoT member of the Yoruba Community Development Association, Abia State Chapter said that there is no other word to qualify their condition in Abia rather than peaceful and accommodating.
He described himself as a Yoruba/Igbo man and said, “I call myself a Yoruigbo man because I’ve been here for over 30 years. I came here as a bachelor. I married a woman from here and my children were all born here.”
