Lagos State chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo will in this year’s annual Igbo day celebration, honour Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, first military governor of the former western region, the late Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, former Super Eagles technical Adviser, Bonfrere Jo, the lawmaker which represented Ajeromo/Ifelodun federal constituency at the eighth Assembly, Honourable Rita Oji, business magnate Femi Otedola and a host of other Nigerians.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday to brief journalists on the activities lined up for the event which is expected to take place on Sunday, the President of the socio-cultural organisation, Chief Solomon Aguene said that the selection of awardees is based on their contributions to the unity and development of the country, stressing that the organisation has chosen to honour sports personalities like Bonfrere Jo, Chioma Ajunwa, Emmanuel Amunike and other sports personalities for their roles in uniting Nigerians.
“In the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games when Nigeria won gold medals in football and long jump, achieved through the tenacity of Chioma Ajunwa and the football team which made us proud in Atlanta, one can easily see the role that sports played in bringing us together as a people.
“This year’s event, with the theme, ‘Celebrating Primordial Brotherhood Between Igbo and Yoruba’, we wish to go back to those days when there was a bond between the Yoruba and Igbo people. We used to have a very good relationship when we were living as one in places like Ajegunle, Yaba etcetera. We will also be considering the price paid by a Yoruba man, the Late Lt Col. Fajuyi who died because of an Igbo man in the 1966 coup. He laid down his life for his quest, General Aguyi Ironsi, an Igbo man in Ibadan.
He said that the leadership role of Governor Sanwo-Olu will not be overemphasized, maintaining that the governor has played a fatherly role in uniting Lagosians. “He has shown quality leadership to Lagosians, especially the relationship between the Yoruba and Igbo people resident in the state,” he said.
Friday Ujah a soccer ambassador said that Bonfrere Jo and a host of other sportsmen and women would be honoured in recognition of their roles at Atlanta ‘96, pointing out that Bonfrere Jo will be the first European coach to bring such honour to Africa.
“Otedola did so well when he paid the medical bills of Christian Chukwu at a time when he was abandoned, so the honour to Otedola is well deserved and also for other great sportsmen like Segun Odegbami and many others. The theme for this year’s event is very apt because it centres on activities that unite us irrespective of religion or ethnic affiliations,” he said.
The event is expected to showcase Igbo culture and tradition including dance steps, dressing, food, masquerades, Igbo language and many others. The organizers of the programme have promised that the event will be very entertaining. (Saturday Independent)
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