Shortly after the election, there has been peaceful coexistence among all tribes in Ijeododo like Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, Fulanis, Nupes, Itsekiris among others.
By Uzor Odigbo
The town of Ijeododo came alive on Wednesday as the community rolled out drums to celebrate the electoral victories of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
Meanwhile, the Ijeododo Community in Iba LCDA of Lagos State, threw parties to celebrate the victories with the ancients masquerade which, it was gathered, only comes out for events of such significant importance.
Speaking to journalists during the celebration, High Chief Abu Jelili Idodo, the Baale of Ijeododo Community, said the celebration was very significant because of the people involved, hence the masquerade.
Recall that Tinubu defeated Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), among others,to emerge the president elect, even as Sanwo-Olu also defeated all-comers to be re-elected Lagos State governor.
“The first masquerade is known as Omolere; the second is Ajofoyinbo. They are very important to us and we use them to celebrate important events. The essence of their coming out today is to celebrate the reelection of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the APC at the federal level; that is the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president.”
The Baale used the occasion to call on government to remember the community in terms of road as that remained the most pressing issues to them.
“We want so much in the areas of roads, drainages among other infrastructure. In the past, the community has enjoyed government’s presence through development but we require more, especially in road construction,” he said.
On the peaceful coexistence among all the ethnic groups in the community, Baale said it has been cordial, especially after the election.
“Shortly after the election there has been peaceful coexistence among all tribes in Ijeododo like Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, Fulanis, Nupes, Ishekiris among others. There has been peace here as everyone has embraced peace as we have been living before.
“We have no issue because we see ourselves as brothers and sisters,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Abu Jelili Idodo praised the Paramount Ruler of Iba Kingdom, Dr Sulaimon Raji Adesina, Oniba of Iba, for his role in keeping the kingdom together, saying his reign had impacted the community.
He further advised the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to evolve more ways and strategies in order to conduct better elections in future
