How Hope Uzodimma building bridges of unity between Igbo and Yoruba in Lagos, by Henry Ikoh 

Lagos State is pivotal to the history of our nation’s political transition and journey to nationhood. It bears the memories of wars and progress, with scripts on the sky depicting the emotions and conflicting counter emotions of heroes past. 

The ocean waves of the lagoon constantly churning inaudible voices of wailing souls of the masses that once adorned the commercial lanes and industrial streets of the now center of excellence.

Once the capital of the nation, yet holds on to it’s status as the foremost capital of the business community in Nigeria, a hotbed of South West politics and the nation at large.

For the people of the South East, Lagos State is a home for them, only made possible not by their love for the ancient city or their businesses quest but for the undeniable hospitality of the Lagos indigenes or native aborigines.

The receptive nature of lagosians to the Igbos and other ethnic groups, predates the inception of Lagos State as the capital of Nigeria, distinguished in friendly handshake by volunteering to trade their land, natural resources and environment for collective exploit for success and benefit of all.

Their uncommon hospitality fashioned a bond that must be tressured and preserved inorder to foster unity, peace and collaboration between the Igbos and the Yoruba people of Lagos State.

The union and unity between these two ethnic groups had transformed beyond business, marriages, religious affiliation into political partnership which created the opportunity for Igbos from the South East to be giving appointment into Lagos state government and also allowed them contest elections at their resident constituencies and get elected into Lagos State House of Assembly and Federal House of Representatives. A political concession by lagosians that made the Igbos to enjoy privileged indigenous status in lagos state.

The tranquility that existed between the Igbos and Yorubas in lagos state had never been threatened as much until the ousting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the ruling party in Nigeria.

Bitter rivalries and political conflict broke down beyond alarming proportion following the sharp presidential election contest between President Bola Tiinubu and Peter Obi. A tumultuous political feud that ensued risking Igbo businesses in Lagos State and threatening the long existing historical peace, unity, commercial and political harmony between the Igbos and Yorubas of Lagos state.

The onus lies on the people from the South East resident in Lagos to take steps to restore the trust and peaceful coexistence by taking advantage of the project “Conversation with Igbos Resident in Lagos” which is being championed by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

As the song writer averred in the national anthem, “the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain” it is important to relive the efforts and sacrifices of our heroes past to build a Lagos State that is home for all and pursue vigorously with every deserving sacrifice to sustain the peace, unity and most importantly the political harmony.

This is what His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum has set out to achieve. To restore the political harmony and peace between the Igbos and Yorubas in Lagos state and to reinstate trust amongst the two ethnic families that have been bombed in religious affinity, business partnership and intermarriages.

Senator Uzodinma took the bold steps through the concerted efforts in organizing the program “Conversation with Igbos Resident in Lagos State.”

The program was not remarkable because of the cream of prominent Igbos resident in Lagos State who attended the event, neither because of their emotional speeches laden with wisdom and reason but rather the driving spirit behind the event and their words assurance to commitment to peaceful coexistence.

Unanimously, we all advocated for humility, respect and reciprocation of the hospitality and receptiveness of the native Yoruba people of Lagos State towards Ndi Igbo in Lagos.

It became necessary coagulate the views of our elders and project them to critical Igbo leaders resident in Lagos for dessemination to all Igbos resident in Lagos State, drawing from the unfortunate experience Igbo businesses men suffered at the spark of the least political conflict and agitations in Nigeria where the Igbo businesses are targeted for arson, looting and destruction.

Lagos State habours the majority of Igbo businesses in Nigeria, creating a peaceful and secure environment for their businesses to thrive is never been in doubt.

His Excellency Hope Uzodinma is a God sent at this point in our political journey as a people in Nigeria. He is saddled with leadership wisdom and humility and has demonstrated the capacity to lead the South East through the thriving political waters in Nigeria today. His efforts to bring the Igbo leaders and market leaders in Lagos state at a round table to deliberate and agree to politically cooperate with our Yorubas brothers in Lagos to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC was strategic and deserved accolades.

The South East leaders and politicians must rally round the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and support him to unite Ndi Igbo for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

It is important to state the obvious that Nigeria is standing on the foundational political tripod. Igbos had been political allies to the North before independence and that alliance has never been broken till date. In every political dispensation the South East supported the Northern agenda, even when Obasanjo a Yoruba man was projected for president in 1999, it was a Northern agenda and Igbos supported them. This same political allegiance should be enacted with the South West and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu so that the South East would come to equity with clean hands when they will advocate for their turn to produce a president of South East extraction.

The South East must unite it’s leadership around the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma to chart a new political alliance with the South West by supporting Tinubu’s reelection and maintain peace in Lagos state for the safety of Ndi Igbo and security of their properties and businesses.

Senator Uzodinma is endowed with political foresight and wisdom. He is a highly focused achiever that elimates all questions of failure.

In Nigeria politics of the present, South East must align with other ethnic stakeholders if we must succeed in our political journey in the union called Nigeria. We must partner with other political blocks, respecting other groups and humbling our political and business pursuit to accommodate the trust and feelings of other Nigerians. We must jettison political decisions that put our interest at risk.

The program “Conversation with Igbos Resident in Lagos State ” which held on Sunday, 1 June 2025 at Civic Center Event, Ozumba Mbadiwe street, Victoria Island Lagos, had such leaders from South East resident in Lagos state in attendance, including personalities such as Rt Admiral Ebutu Ukiwe, Rt Maj.Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Rt. Maj. Gen. Umahi, Business mogul Leo Stan Eke, the Chairmen of all the Markets in Lagos State, Senator Osita Izunaso, Senator Frank Ibezim, Senator Onyewuchi Francis Ezenwa, Former Ministers, Hon. Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, Dr Uche Ogah, APC Anambara Deputy Governorship candidate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, Chicason the Oil magnet, Stella Chinyelu Okoli, CEO of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a Chief Tony Chukwu. Chairman of Amuwon Odoffin LGA and others not mentioned.

Unarguably this is an attestation to the resolve of South East leaders to rally round Senator Hope Uzodinma to foster unity between Igbos resident in Lagos State and the Yorubas to achieve political harmony between the two major ethnic groups.

Hope is an inspiration and opportunity for a greater tomorrow.

Written by Hon. Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh.

(Ozurumba),

Chairman Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State and Former Minister of State Science and Technology.