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Organisers of the Igede Heroes Football Tournament have welcomed the decision by the Oju Local Government Council to lift the earlier suspension placed on the competition, describing the move as a major step toward sustaining peace and unity in the area.
The suspension, which was imposed due to reported security concerns surrounding the tournament, was lifted following constructive resolutions reached at a recent security meeting convened by the Oju Local Government authorities. In response, the tournament organisers, under the banner of the J & O Foundation, issued a press statement reaffirming their full commitment to all peaceful measures and agreements outlined during the meeting.
Signed by the Chairman of the Publicity Committee, James Ibechi, the statement emphasised that the Igedede Heroes Football Tournament was never intended as a platform for tension, division, or political mischief. Instead, the competition was established to honour Igedede heroes of the past and present — beginning with the late Och’Idoma II and Dr. Abraham Ajene Okpabi — while providing a avenue to discover and nurture young football talents and foster unity among the Igede people.
The organisers reiterated that football remains a powerful tool for promoting peace, brotherhood, and shared joy, not for inflaming tensions or exacerbating divisions. They issued a firm warning that the Foundation would not tolerate any individual or group attempting to use the tournament to instigate tension, provoke communal clashes, or disrupt public peace.
With the suspension now lifted, matches are set to resume and continue across Oju and Obi Local Government Areas under a strictly peaceful framework. The organisers appealed to all sons and daughters of the Igede nation to embrace restraint, unity, and calm as the competition progresses.
They further urged members of the public to attend matches peacefully, comply with all security advisories, and offer responsible support to the tournament. Expressing optimism, the statement conveyed confidence that the competition would conclude with a historic final that would reflect Igedede pride, exceptional talent, and collective harmony.
The Igede Heroes Football Tournament is organised by the J & O Foundation, led by its President, DCN Jackson Onah Ugbada.
The development is widely seen as a positive outcome of dialogue and collaboration between tournament organisers, community stakeholders, and local government authorities, reinforcing the role of sports in building bridges and strengthening communal bonds in the region.
