Igbo, Yoruba leaders meet to mend ‘troubled relationship’

Leaders of Yoruba and Igbo ethnic nationalities are expected to meet to iron out “the troubled relationship” between the two tribes.

The meeting will hold on January 15, being the anniversary of the day Nigeria witnessed her first military coup, led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu and other soldiers with the stated objective of cleansing a rotten political system.

The event will be hosted by Fatherland Group, the leading socio-political movement that continues to draw the best of professionals from across Nigeria and the Diaspora.

Fatherland Group Convener, Mr Dele Ogun, a London-based Corporate Lawyer and Historian said the historic meeting was intended to find common ground, in the face of mounting common challenges occasioned by instability and existential threats to the lives of millions of Nigerians.

The theme of the summit, according to him, is “Yoruba and Igbo Speaking with one voice from a shared experience: Wetie to Biafra.”

He said “this is a first step towards building a new constructive relationship between generations of Igbo and Yoruba people who have been divided by hostile narratives which have sown seeds of discord since the beginning of the campaign for Nigeria’s Independence in which the two great civilisations played the leading roles but in which both have been poorly served.”

“The process of reconciliation is to be aided by Dr. Biki S. V. Minyuku, who was the Chief Executive of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by Bishop Desmond Tutu.

“This historic conference is to be chaired by Jo Wealleans. Speakers at the event include Emeritus Professor Emmanuel Chukwuedo Nwanze, former Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN; Prof. Banji Akintoye, the world-wide leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, the Yoruba global movement, Executive Director, Journalists for Democratic Rights, JODER Mr Adewale Adeoye among others. (Daily Trust)