Kunle Adelabu
Chieftains of the Arewa Community in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos on Tuesday (yesterday) visited the Ayangbure palace in lkorodu to pay homage to His Royal Majesty Oba Kabir Shotobi.
During the visit, the group, led by its State Chairman, Alhaji Saadu Yussuf and the Seriki Hausa in Ikorodu, Alhaji Shittu Idris, pledged their support for the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency.
The Arewa group also visited the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, in his palace.
The group commended Ayangbure of Ikorodu and other royal fathers in the division for accepting and protecting them as their children, in their respective Kingdoms.
Alhaji Yussuf said that they are in Ikorodu to bring their people together under an umbrella and pledge their support for Asiwaju Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria.
“We are here to pay our homage and also bring our people together as a united body.
“We are bringing our people together because in other councils, we have about two or three Serikis claiming just one position but it’s only in Ikorodu that we don’t have such a crisis. There is only one Seriki in Ikorodu.
“We are also here to show our support for Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria. We have a very large base to use in working for him”.
He also sought the support of the royal fathers in the state for the Arewa community to have one Seriki and Chairman in Lagos.
“We are also soliciting for the support of royal fathers in the state to support us in having one Seriki and one Chairman for Arewa at the state level. Through this, we can bring our people together”, he pleaded.
“This is a familiarization tour and there is no how that we can come here to meet our people without paying homage to our royal father”.
The Seriki Arewa in Ikorodu, Alhaji Idris, commended Oba Shotobi for being a just and good father to his people and pledged the continuous cooperation of the Arewa community for Ikorodu.
“I thank the royal father for being a just and good father to us all.
“I also commend you for the way that you have been maintaining peace and cooperation between the Yorubas and Arewa people, especially on issues between Omo – Oniles (land owners) and Arewa people.
“We will remain peaceful and always do everything to ensure peace and development in Ikorodu”, he assured the royal father and other eminent people.
“Ikorodu is our town which we cherish greatly and where we want to live till eternity”, he said.
Alhaji Umaru Adamu, the General Secretary of the group, said that state chieftains and representatives of Arewa in all the councils in Lagos visited Ikorodu to reach out to their people through the royal fathers.
He added that the visitation was an exercise that they are embarking on across the state.
Also, Alhaja Aisha Sulaimon, the State Woman Leader of the group, assured the royal father that Arewa has massive strength to improve the state voting strength to help Tinubu’s Presidency.
She said that they are ready to support his emergence because they are sure of his leadership qualities.
She also commended the royal father for the way and manner that he has been treating Arewa people in Ikorodu.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, in his royal remarks, thanked members of the group for the visit and called on everyone to join hands in making Nigeria a better country.
He charged Arewas to mobilise their people to support Tinubu for good governance.
“Ayangbure palace is home to the Arewas and other people. You can come here anytime and I will be ready to listen to you and address your issues”, Oba Shotobi said.
“We need your vote for Tinubu to unite not only Lagos State but the entire country which will remain one in spite of the current challenges .
“You are free here because Lagos is very tolerant and accessible for all Nigerians and we want your continuous cooperation and peaceful co – existence”, he charged.
The royal father also said that Arewa community has always been compensated for its contributions in Lagos State, pointing out the appointment of Mr Kabir Ahmed in the present administration as a testament.
“Arewa has been compensated for its contributions in Lagos. That is why one of your own, Kabir Ahmed, was appointed as a Commissioner in the state”, Oba Shotobi said.
“Such a gesture cannot happen in the north, not to talk of other states”.
He thanked them for maintaining peace in Ikorodu and charged them to continue in that path.
“I thank you for your peaceful co – existence in Ikorodu and let us continue to work together as partners in progress.
“Let us all work together to get more votes for Lagos by revalidating our voters’ card and registering those that are yet to do so to make them eligible for voting.
“It is only with yoiur voters’ card that you will be able to vote for Tinubu and other people of your choice”.
Oba Shotobi also pleaded that the north should support the southwest for the next President.
Also at the Ayangbure palace to support Oba Shotobi in receiving the Arewa community were High Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, SAN, the Odofin of Ikorodu and Chairman, MultiChoice Nigeria, Otunba (Sir) Ayodele Elesho, the Agbaakin of Ikorodu Kingdom and former Commissioner for Information, Lagos State, Chief Monzor Olowosago, the Baroyin of Ikorodu and Publisher of Oriwu Sun and Chief Moshood Adesegun Bello, the Bashorun of Ikorodu among others.
