Stakeholders in Orile-Agege and Agege council areas of Lagos have appealed to former chairman Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf to return to APC.
 
The stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders and political figures, made the appeal at a peace meeting held on Sunday in Orile-Agege.
 
They urged Egunjobi and Yusuf to reconsider their positions in the interest of peace and development ahead of the 2027 general elections.
 
Oba Ambaliu Agbedeyi, the Alaige of Orile-Agege, said reports of possible violence prompted the meeting. He said his priority remained the peace, stability and development of the community.
 
“We want peace and progress in our community. When I heard that there would be bloodshed, I cannot fold my arms and watch. If we sit idle and do not intervene, and it comes to pass, we will be blamed for it,” he said.
 
Mr Agbedeyi appealed to Egunjobi and Yusuf to reconsider their positions and preserve the peace that had prevailed in the community.
 
Similarly, the Olu of Agege, Oba Oyedeji Kamila Ishiba, urged politicians and their supporters to shun confrontation.
 
“We don’t want fight or rancour in our communities. Promotion is of God. We don’t pray for commotion in our communities. We want you to work on achieving peace and stability in your party and the community,” he said.
 
Shuaib Ajayi, the Baale of Dopemu, also urged stakeholders to uphold truth and sustain efforts towards peace and Babajide Ajibode, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Orile-Agege, said religious leaders would continue praying for peace and progress.
 
“The party has spoken, and we must align with the position of the party. A few weeks ago, the party invited us to a prayer meeting. I am not a politician but, as a clergyman, we will continue to pray for the peace and progress of the party,” he said.
 
Olawale Sulaiman, the chief imam of Dopemu, urged party leaders to intervene and prevent actions that could trigger violence. Mr Sulaiman said political positions were temporary and should not cost lives.
 
“Seeking positions only has meaning in this world. It is a thing of this world and only useful as long as we breathe. If we are fighting over these intangible things and lives are lost, history will never forget the person behind the event,” he said.
 
Mr Egunjobi, who recently defected from APC to APM, said he was unaware of the meeting until one of the clerics invited him. The former council chairman said the primary election period was politically sensitive and required fairness and reconciliation.
 
Mr Egunjobi claimed he won the party’s primary election but said APC subsequently settled for another candidate. He argued that a reconciliation process should have followed.
 
 Mr Egunjobi said he and his supporters considered going to court but were prevailed upon by Lagos Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.