The Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Council Chief Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada has stated her resolve to engender much more beneficial commerce and good neighbourliness amongst residents of her domain through the Annual Cultural Carnival scheduled for 30th September and 1st Octorber 2022.
Princess Bada made this disclosure at a press parley held to herald the second edition of the carnival theme: Our Culture, Not Our Religion.
The council boss stressed the need for preservation of age long cultural values and affinities of the people, as it tends to say much about the essence of their being.
Princess Bada said that; “Ikosi Isheri LCDA comprises of different ethnic nationalities, in this community we have Hausa, Igbo and the Yoruba. Insecurity bedevilling the land boils down to the fact that there are tribal intolerance, at the last edition we gather them together sensitize them against clashes amongst different groups and now there is no disparity among the religions, that informs our theme: Our culture not our religion.
“This is to tell you that our ethnic diversity and religion does not divide us, we are coming together in one language and to speak as Ikosi Isherians and to go back and remember our tradition our unique colour- Black is beauty.
“That we have a particular way of life they call culture in Ikosi Isheri and these are things we have interviewed the custodians of our culture like the Obas and Chiefs about and they said they have a lot of things they worship, although the white people who came visiting then went away with lots of things our fathers are using as their power.
“These are the things that made us come back as Chairman at the grassroots to make different enquiries on how we can forge a united front on those valuable things we have for which many can partner with us.
“That informs why we invited a lot of people whom even while they are here to dine and wine with us, we have a lot of lands here, we will tell them come here and invest in Ikosi Isheri.
“Ikosi Isheri is a proudly peaceful area, during the EndSars protest Ikosi Isheri remain peaceful because already we work as a friend and family here and those are the things that encouraged me to say this year’s own will be a laudable one.
“ A lot of musicians are ready to come on board, we are having support from a lot of people names of whom we shall reel out on that day and a lot of our supporters will be awarded, we have made arrangements for a water tight security as no space will accorded any untoward moves during the carnival.” Princess Bada said.
The two-day event had lined up fixtures: music, dance, awards presentation to supporters of the initiative, pageantry, carnival floats and displays of rich cultural heritage.
Fuji Maestro- Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1),Sir Shina Peter’s,Obesere Omorapala,Pasuma,Saheed Balogun,Koffi,QDot,Bella Shmura,OT,Sato Dancers(from Badagry),Olaijo Art& Gallery(Ibadan),Ewi and several others will be performing live at the carnival.
Notable Obas in the locality like Oba Jamiu Lawal Aileru 1 of Magodo Shangisha, representative of Oba Samuel Alamu Kehinde Oloyede all rallied support for the council chief’s unmatched humanitarian gesture across the divide for her to be able to do more.
However, the APC flag bearer for Kosofe Federal constituency Alhaja Kafilat Ogbara who also graced the occasion applauded Mayoress initiation of the carnival , an idea which she said aligns so well with the fifth item of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu THEMES agenda, which according to her breeds social cohesion, leisure boost and an avenue for people who hitherto were busy hustling to unwind in a less tensed environment.
Ogbara appealed to banks representatives and business owners present at the briefing to donate generously in support of the initiative as according to her it remains one of their corporate social responsibility.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the parley, Ogbara touched on reconciliation moves with her contenders after the primary, stating unequivocally that all of them are in good terms collaborating with her and ready to deliver for the party at coming polls.
“I don’t have a camp, it is a party thing and the party All Progressives Congress we are fully prepared, We have done our reconciliation to the fullest, I have reached out to everybody that I contested election with and we are all on board to go forward for this election ,come 2023.
“ I have a very cordial relationship with the incumbent Reps member Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye. I think I will win this election because for the past several years I have always been the candidate for the House of Reps, I have worked in this local government severally to win elections.
“So now my own election is like a general election that has permeated the whole local government already and the residents are waiting for that day to come so that they can bombard INEC with their votes for Kafilat Ogbara.
In her view all the council chairmen in her constituency have done exceptionally well so much so that her campaign will be seamless when the time comes.
“We thank God in Kosofe federal we have three hard working council chairmen, who are passionate about the people in their councils; Mayor Dele Osinowo,Moyosore Ogunlewe and of course the Mayoress Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada whom we have seen today, you’ve heard her reel out her achievements and you know that they have already done the campaigns that are needed with their performance.
“So the people are ready to support the All Progressives Congress come 2023 with their votes, we very optimistic, we are not shaken we not perturbed, we are not even bothered because we believed that Kosofe federal constituency by the grace of God will even produce one of the highest votes in Lagos state for all the candidates”. Ogbara said.
