NOA DG, Dr Abari Pays Peace Advocacy Visit To Eze Nwachukwu Over Post Election Tension
Posted on April 13, 2023
CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The Director General of National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari, on Wednesday paid a peace advocacy visit to the Igbo traditional ruler a.k.a Ezendigbo in Lagos State, Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, over post election tension in the State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the visit was held at the palace of Eze Nwachukwu at the Igbo Community centre at Nwachukwu Drive, Okota, Lagos.
Those in the entourage of the DG included the Directors of NOA, Lagos State and Abuja including other top senior staff of the organization.
On the side of Eze Nwachukwu were top class Ezendigbo in Lagos led by the Chairman of Council of Ndieze, Lagos State, Eze Chika Nwokedi, the founder and first President of Ohanaeze, Lagos State, Chief John Uche, Eze Chukwukadibe and many others including Igbo top men and women, who converged at the palace to receive Dr Abari and his entourage.
The DG thanked and commended the hospitality of Eze Nwachukwu and stated that he was in Lagos State for two purposes and one was to engage the media on their mode of reportage in order to promote peace in the society through the media as means of setting agenda in the society and the critical stakeholders including the traditional rulers and religious leaders to advocate for the need for peace in Nigeria.
He explained that before and after the elections there has been high tension due to the manner the politicians speak and if it was not managed properly, it may lead to violence that will do no one any good.
He noted that elections were conducted, the winners were declared by INEC and as well there are aggrieved parties that have gone to Court. He stressed that there was need to maintain peace and allow the judicial process to be concluded.
“It is my pleasure to commend the NOA for this peace advocacy, to bring the stakeholders to chart a way forward for sustainability of peace among the ethnic groups following the violence witnessed during the 2023 elections in Nigeria.”
He noted that over the years, it has been observed that there are pockets of violence among ethnic groups in Nigeria including Lagos State.
Eze Nwachukwu explained that tribal affiliation has been the major issue despite the fact that we preach a united Nigeria but in the actual sense, we are divided on ethnic lines and support candidates from ethnic backgrounds, which does not foster unity among us.
He expressed worries over the intense acrimony among the parties, which has raised tensions across the country and polarised the people along ethnic lines in this year’s election.
He stated that there was need for orientation, sensitization and preaching of tolerance among the people so that they will know we are one and elections cannot divide us.
The NOA DG also stated that we should all think about Nigeria first before any other consideration and that was one of the purposes that brought him to Lagos; to speak with Eze Nwachukwu as the leader of Ndigbo in Lagos State so as to prevail on the Igbo people to maintain peace and order as they go about their normal businesses.
Dr Abari also called other ethnic groups in the State and indeed in Nigeria to live in peace and that they should not let election to divide the people who had been living together over the years.
Eze Nwachukwu, in his response, commended the DG for leaving the FCT, Abuja, to come to Lagos for the advocacy.
Nwachukwu stated that the task is for all to build bridges, trust and confidence among ethnic groups in Nigeria.
He noted that election should not divide us as a nation because after the election, people would still come together and live their normal communal lives in Lagos State.
However, Eze Nwachukwu noted that this year’s election was tensed unlike other elections in the past due to the fact that an Igbo man and a Yoruba person were on the ballot.
He stated that what is important now that elections are over is for Nigerians to work day and night in order to ensure that Nigeria exists despite our grievances.
He promised the NOA DG that he will work and ensure that there is peace in the state and as well for other ethnic groups to control the bad ones among them that would like to cause violence in the State.
Chief Uche regretted the ugly incident that happened during the election, where some people suffered various injuries, intimidation with properties worth millions of Naira destroyed. He stated that the Igbo will still make their stand known over the matter.
He commended NOA for the initiative, which he described as timely.
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