Two warring communities in Kwara to embrace peace through football

Date: 2018-04-20

A football competition, tagged "Maigida Unity Cup", has been put together to foster unity between the warring Offa and Erin-Ile communities in the Offa and Oyun Local Government Areas of Kwara.

Speaking on Thursday in Ilorin at a press conference to herald the tournament, the competition's sponsor, Umar Balogun, said conflicts could only retard the economic potentials and prosperity of the communities. "Sustainable development that provides responsible lifestyles for citizens of a country depends on how peace and stability are guaranteed and assured.

"Peace is the most fundamental asset to community-building, personal growth and to the very survival of the world. "At the heart of many faiths, practices and cultures, advancing peaceful co-existence is essential to ensuring productive, meaningful lives and sustainable societies.

"We have watched in distress and anguish as our people in the two communities of Offa and Erin-Ile unleashed mayhem on themselves. "The loss of lives and destruction of properties which have resulted from these clashes sadden us all," Balogun said.

Also speaking, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara said his government would continue to support any move towards sustainable peace in the state. Ahmed, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Isiaka Gold, identified peace as a key component in achieving development in any society.

He urged the two communities to "resolve to live together in peace and unity, forget the past and forge ahead for the development of the areas and the state as a whole".

The governor said no nation could grow without peace and unity, and urged residents of the state to eschew violence and embrace peaceful coexistence in the interest of the state.

In his remarks, the Elerin of Erin-Ile, AbdulGaniyu Ajibola, Olusookun II, advised stakeholders in the two communities to allow peace to reign by avoiding actions and utterances that could truncate peace.

"I acknowledge earlier peace initiatives by various groups towards achieving sustainable peace between the two communities, and I appeal to the people of the areas to support any peace move in the area," he said.

Ajibola thanked the state government for supporting the initiator of the peace move and hoped that the effort would guarantee peace in Offa and Erin-Ile communities. Speaking in the same vein, the Olofa of Offa, Mufutau Gbadamosi, Esuwoye II, said the people of Offa were ready for peace to reign supreme between the two communities.

Speaking through a traditional title-holder, Yinusa Oyeyemi, Gbadamosi also expressed gratitude to Balogun and called for genuine interest in finding lasting peace in the two communities. He emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence in moving Ibololand forward. The football competition and peace move were put together by a group called LADORB Peace Initiative.

The competition is scheduled for May 5 to May 12, with matches being played in both communities.(NAN)

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Fatimah Abdulkadir     Shettima Of Ilorin     Moshood Bakare     Face Masks     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Maryam Ado Bayero     Kwarareports.com     Plat Technologies Limited     Alfa Yahaya Road     Grillo     QuickWin     Nagode     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     International Aviation College     High Court     Ilorin Durbar     Yusuf Aiyedun     Seed Technologies     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Hausa     Aliyu Umar     Sabi     Wasiu Onidugbe     Offorjama     Noah Yusuf     Kwara North     Samari     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet     Muhammad-Mustapha Suleiman     Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria     Bashir Adigun     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Lateef Fagbemi     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Ibrahim Jawondo     Simeon Sule Ajibola     Kola Ologbondiyan     Albert Ogunsola     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Ibrahim Labaika     Islamic Development Bank     Okin High School     Sai Kayi     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Aminu Ado Bayero     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Oloruntoyosi Thomas     Yahaya Muhammad     Omupo     Sheikh Alimi     Sheikh Hamzat Yusuf Ariyibi     Kale Belgore     Abubakar Imam     Minimum Wage     AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi     Lateef Alagbonsi     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Zulu Gambari     Muritala Olarewaju     Yomi Ogunsola     Monthly Sanitation Exercise     Lanre Issa-Onilu     Ekiti     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Doyin Group     Shonga     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Yakubu Danladi     Shaaba Lafiagi     Abikan     Osi     Issa Oloruntogun     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     NIPR     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Olaoye B. Felix     Olupako     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Turaki     Shettima Of Ilorin     Tafidan Kaiama     Kwara North     Wahab Agbaje     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Sidikat Akaje     Oniwasi Agbaye     Emmanuel Bello     Col. Adedipe     Ibrahim Gambari     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     Olatunde Olukoya     Elerinjare     Shade Omoniyi     Toyin Falola     Ibrahim Oniye     Eghe Igbinehin     Communication Network Support Services     IYA ALFA NLA     Isiaka Abdulrazak     TIC     Saheed Popoola     Olabode George Towoju     Ilorin Amusement Park     Siraj Oyewale     Share-Tsaragi     Alao Ayotunde     FERMA     Sunday Fagbemi     Abdulrazaq Adebayo     M.Y. Abdulrahaman     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     George Funsho Adebayo     CCB     KWASAA     Shagari     Charcoal     Alaro     Leke Ogungbe     Aro Yahaya     Fatimoh Lawal     Sun Qing Rong     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Allocation     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Bayo Ojo     Local Government Pension Board     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     Ndakene     Idris Amosa Saidu     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Saheed Alakoso     Raliat AbdulRazaq     Saliu Shola Taofeek     Ladi Hassan     Gbugbu International Market     Saliu Oluwole     Tope Daramola     Inside Kwara     Kolo     Aliyu Adebayo     Erubu     Idiagbon     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Musa Aibinu     Haruna Olawale Sulaiman     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     Kolawole Akande     Wahab Isa     Onilu