Yakubu Busari
The Igbo Community, Plateau State Chapter has organized football league tournament to promote peaceful coexistence and revamping of 1986 Igbo league which produced local ,international stars in the like Peter Obi ,as the condemned the incessant attacks in the State.
The President General of the Igbo, Chief Chidi Onah made this disclosure on Sunday at semi final of the tournament held at St .John Private School opposite Jankwano in Jos North LGA.
He said, as part of a series of activities aimed at promoting dialogue and enhancing social cohesion, a football tournament in which 16 football teams from the Igbo extraction including non Igbo are among those that competed against each other since last Sunday.
According to him, Football Tournament is to revamp and Promote Peaceful Co-Existence between Communities in Plateau State and harness the potential of youth growth also reducing crime and criminality.
The tournament aimed to support the reconciliation agreements reached in 2022, to re-build trust, to restore inter-community relations and, also, to strengthen the skills of youth-led civil society organizations working on peacebuilding.
The teams that participated in the tournament were Um Duwain, Al-Jabal, Ardamata, Durti, IDP gathering site (A), IDP gathering site (B), North El Geneina and South El Geneina. In a thrilling final match, the Ardamat team won the championship against the team Durti by 3 to nil.
People of different ethnicities and cultural background from across El Genina city, have come together in the name of peace and coexistence
The Wali of the West Darfur State, Khamis Abdallah Abaker, who opened and closed the tournament, praised the efforts of UNITAMS and its partners to support peacebuilding through sport activities in the state.
“Without peace, there will be no development and no stability. Time has come to change our language to a language of peace and we should denounce hatred, hate speech, and tribalism. Such a tournament must be organized in all localities of the state – in Kereink, Kulbus, Seleia, Serba, Beida, Habila and Forbaranga. We must celebrate peace everywhere. We need a comprehensive peace that includes all members of the community,” he said.
The President General, encouraged the players and the public to spread the culture of peaceful coexistence between communities and to come together as a team to denounce hate speech and tribalism and resort to dialogue to resolve their differences.
He reminded all participants of the beauty of football as it brings people together, promotes teamwork, friendship and a healthy mind and body. “Choosing to become enlightened, learn about each other and remain a team player alongside your friends, regardless of their tribe, is how we will end tribalism and spreading hate,” said Onah .
“The spirit of tolerance and solidarity was clearly demonstrated during this tournament. People of different ethnicities and cultural background from 17 LGAs , have come together in the name of peace and coexistence. Sports is an essential means of unifying people regardless of their differences of opinions,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Igbo organizers,of the football team, Onah stressed the usefulness of introducing the tournament and its efforts to bring peace to the state.
“I hope that this tournament will encourage cohesion, harness talent in Plateau State and in Nigeria as a whole. As young people, we will continue working together with other members of the community to achieve lasting peace and spread a message of tolerance,” President General Igbo explained.
He stated that, the Chairman ,PFA ,Dr Suleiman Yahaya Kwande was in present at the tournament kicks off inside Zaria Road Stadium to achieved its goals of realizing ,promoting youthful peace, peaceful coexistence between communities, respect and acceptance of others, and tolerance.
“Let me assure you that all those who participated in the activities will be ‘messengers of peace’ in this ‘beloved state’. Sports is a bridge that links together all components of the community, improves the social fabric and strengthens friendships and ties,” concluded Chidi Onah says.
