Group urges Ibeju-Lekki indigenes to embrace peace

As the community prepares for a face-lift through the Ibeju-Lekki Development Foundation (ILDF), its indigenes of have been enjoined to embrace peace in order to achieve socio-economic and infrastructural development that would promote the community and attract foreign investors.

The call was made at the ILDF indigenes conference with the theme: “Unity is our only option”.

The event, which had in attendance royal fathers of the different districts, government representatives and indigenes addressed the different challenges facing the community and the way forward as well as the agendas put in place for the growth of the community.

The president and founder, ILDF, Dr. Ademuyiwa Oniwonlu, said the foundation has set out plans for the development of the community, which would only be achieved through the collective effort of indigenes, noting that disunity is a major setback of development.

Oniwonlu stressed that due to the large number of communities making up Ibeju-Lekki, there has been lack of trust and unity among the people, which have deterred the progress of the community.

“The vast number of communities and diversity of interest has led us to a position of lack of common objective, our political differences have beclouded the need for a common vision. The passion for individual successes has robbed us of the mission for the success of our beloved community. It has become extremely necessary to reunify us as a people, re-establish our objectives and reset common goals for the sake of our future and that of our children,” he said.

One of the royal fathers and chairman, board of trustees, ILDF, the Onibeju of Ibeju, Oba Rafiu Olusegun Salami, stated that the foundation which is concerned about the development of the community and the problems has brought residents together to enlighten them on the benefit and progress of the community.

“There was need to bring residents together, enlighten and make them realize that the opportunity coming to our area is a blessing not a curse, we also realize that lack of communication has resulted and heighten anxiety and apprehension’” he added.

Also speaking at the event, the MD/CEO, Bablink Resources Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bolaji Isiaka, advised residents to eschew violence and embrace unity in order to make the community an attractive place for foreign investors. He said several agendas have been put in place to ensure a facelift for the community.