Traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders in Orile-Agege and Agege Local Government Areas of Lagos State have called for peace and an end to the recent political realignment in Agege. The appeal was made at a peace meeting convened by the Alaige of Orile-Agege, Oba Ambaliu Agbeleyi, to address concerns over possible violence arising from the political situation. The meeting aimed to promote development and sustain peace in the community.
The Alaige of Orile-Agege, Oba Ambaliu Agbeleyi, stated that the peace, stability, and development of the community remained his priority. He has been on the throne for 14 years and expressed concern over reports of possible violence in the coming election. Oba Agbeleyi urged former Agege Local Government chairman, High Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi, and Barrister Azeez Yusuf to reconsider their positions and take into account the interest of the community.
The Olu of Agege, Oba Oyedeji Kamila Ishiba, also urged politicians and their supporters to avoid confrontation. He emphasized that residents did not want "fight or rancour" and that promotion is from God. The Baale of Dopemu, High Chief Shuaib Ajayi, urged political stakeholders to uphold truth and support religious and community leaders in their efforts to maintain peace.
The Chairman of CAN in Orile-Agege, Apostle J.B. Olubode, stated that religious leaders would continue to pray for peace and the progress of the APC and the community. He noted that the party has spoken, and they must align with its position. The Chief Imam of Dopemu, Alhaji Sulaiman, called on party leaders to intervene in the crisis and prevail on their members to avoid actions that could lead to violence.
The CAN Coordinator in Agege Local Government Area, Pastor Bayo Jesuniyi, emphasized that the religious community is focused on preserving peace and ensuring the continued development of Agege. He urged political leaders not to regard political positions as personal possessions and stressed that leadership is ultimately determined by God. Pastor Jesuniyi called for tolerance among political leaders and urged them to avoid actions that could threaten peaceful coexistence.
Ganiyu Egunjobi, the APM candidate, responded to the appeal, stating that he was not aware of the meeting until one of the clerics invited him. He described the period as politically sensitive and called for fairness and reconciliation by the APC leadership. Egunjobi claimed that he won the APC primary election but that the party later settled for another candidate, and he expected party leaders to bring the contending groups together.
Egunjobi further disclosed that he and his supporters had considered instituting legal action over the matter but were prevailed upon by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, not to do so. He commended the convener of the peace meeting and assured residents that the political disagreement would not result in violence.
Key points
- Traditional rulers and clerics in Agege area appeal for peace amid a political crisis.
- The crisis involves former chairman Ganiyu Egunjobi and Barrister Azeez Yusuf's defection to the Allied Peoples Movement.
- The stakeholders are urging Egunjobi and Yusuf to reconsider their positions and return to the All Progressives Congress.
