MATRIARCH
of the Awolowo dynasty, Yeye Oodua, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, on Thursday, in
Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, warned that the Yoruba must not play a second fiddle
in the next political dispensation.
of the Awolowo dynasty, Yeye Oodua, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, on Thursday, in
Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, warned that the Yoruba must not play a second fiddle
in the next political dispensation.
The
Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II and other prominent persons from
Yorubaland, who met under the auspices of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), also
cautioned the Yoruba against becoming slaves in their own country.
Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II and other prominent persons from
Yorubaland, who met under the auspices of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), also
cautioned the Yoruba against becoming slaves in their own country.
Chief
(Mrs) Awolowo, who set the agenda at the four-hour meeting, held at the
residence of the Awolowos, said the wake-up call was necessary because of the
sidelining of the Yoruba in the present dispensation.
(Mrs) Awolowo, who set the agenda at the four-hour meeting, held at the
residence of the Awolowos, said the wake-up call was necessary because of the
sidelining of the Yoruba in the present dispensation.
She
said in fashioning a way forward this time, the people must take cognisance of
their enviable contributions that culminated in the present leadership in the
country which had not been acknowledged by the authorities.
said in fashioning a way forward this time, the people must take cognisance of
their enviable contributions that culminated in the present leadership in the
country which had not been acknowledged by the authorities.
She
warned the people against compromising the collective interest of the race but
to learnt from history in charting a new direction, preparatory to the next
dispensation.
warned the people against compromising the collective interest of the race but
to learnt from history in charting a new direction, preparatory to the next
dispensation.
Recalling
how the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo made enormous sacrifices, including his
readiness to be the second in command under an alliance between the defunct
National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and the Action Group [AG] in the
First Republic, she said the lack of compromise from the other camp led to the
collapse of the arrangement.
how the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo made enormous sacrifices, including his
readiness to be the second in command under an alliance between the defunct
National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and the Action Group [AG] in the
First Republic, she said the lack of compromise from the other camp led to the
collapse of the arrangement.
According
to her, most of the current national challenges are direct consequences of the
unsuccessful alliance.
to her, most of the current national challenges are direct consequences of the
unsuccessful alliance.
Using
the evergreen album of late artiste, Hurbert Ogunde, entitled Yoruba Ronu to
stress the message, Chief (Mrs) Awolowo called for a sober reflection from the
people and urged them to always speak with one voice, adding “We should know
where we are coming from and where we are going.”
the evergreen album of late artiste, Hurbert Ogunde, entitled Yoruba Ronu to
stress the message, Chief (Mrs) Awolowo called for a sober reflection from the
people and urged them to always speak with one voice, adding “We should know
where we are coming from and where we are going.”
Emphasising
that there was nothing wrong in political parties merging, the matriarch,
however, warned the people to learn from history and avoid a situation that
could create further division among the race.
that there was nothing wrong in political parties merging, the matriarch,
however, warned the people to learn from history and avoid a situation that
could create further division among the race.
Similarly,
Oba Sijuade, in his goodwill message read by the Deputy Chairman of the Forum,
Reverend Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, underscored the need for sustained unity in
Yorubaland and strongly warned against compromise by the political class.
Oba Sijuade, in his goodwill message read by the Deputy Chairman of the Forum,
Reverend Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, underscored the need for sustained unity in
Yorubaland and strongly warned against compromise by the political class.
He expressed
confidence that the Yoruba had always remained on top in the scheme of things
as well as maintaining their commanding heights in the land.
confidence that the Yoruba had always remained on top in the scheme of things
as well as maintaining their commanding heights in the land.
On
his part, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu
Falae, said YUF was borne out of the pursuit of reconciliation in Yorubaland
and cautioned “that disunity would never do the people any good.”
his part, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu
Falae, said YUF was borne out of the pursuit of reconciliation in Yorubaland
and cautioned “that disunity would never do the people any good.”
He said
everybody mattered in the current movement to reposition the Yoruba, adding
that “nobody would reckon with us if we are not united.”
everybody mattered in the current movement to reposition the Yoruba, adding
that “nobody would reckon with us if we are not united.”
Senator
Bode Olajumoke harped on the need for discipline and spartan life style which
he said, were part of the sterling qualities of Chief Awolowo, just as he
called for the stepping up of efforts to bring all Yoruba in academic and
professional groups on board the current initiative.
Bode Olajumoke harped on the need for discipline and spartan life style which
he said, were part of the sterling qualities of Chief Awolowo, just as he
called for the stepping up of efforts to bring all Yoruba in academic and
professional groups on board the current initiative.
In a
communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the YUF noted that it was
particularly disturbed by the recent appointments made by the Presidency, which
had further aggravated the marginalisation, as no Yoruba person was considered
worthy of appointments.
communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the YUF noted that it was
particularly disturbed by the recent appointments made by the Presidency, which
had further aggravated the marginalisation, as no Yoruba person was considered
worthy of appointments.
The
meeting, therefore, urged the president to take urgent steps to reverse the
trend and do justice to the Yoruba people of the South-West.
meeting, therefore, urged the president to take urgent steps to reverse the
trend and do justice to the Yoruba people of the South-West.
While
acknowledging and expressing appreciation for the visits of the South/South
leaders and the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to Yoruba
leaders in Ikenne, the YUF stated that it was poised to encourage such
interactions among the leadership of the various ethnic groups in Nigeria to
promote understanding and strengthen the unity of the country.
acknowledging and expressing appreciation for the visits of the South/South
leaders and the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to Yoruba
leaders in Ikenne, the YUF stated that it was poised to encourage such
interactions among the leadership of the various ethnic groups in Nigeria to
promote understanding and strengthen the unity of the country.
In
addition, the forum affirmed support for the formation of the Southern Nigeria
Peoples Assembly (SNPA) and endorsed the efforts of southern leaders to
consolidate the organisation, while expressing its preparedness to host the
next conference in Ibadan in May this year.
addition, the forum affirmed support for the formation of the Southern Nigeria
Peoples Assembly (SNPA) and endorsed the efforts of southern leaders to
consolidate the organisation, while expressing its preparedness to host the
next conference in Ibadan in May this year.
The
forum also paid very special compliments to the Chief (Mrs) Awolowo, the
founder and leader of the YUF, for her active support and participation at the
meetings of the YUF, as well as her thought-provoking speech at the meeting,
while praying that God would continue to grant her longevity of life.
forum also paid very special compliments to the Chief (Mrs) Awolowo, the
founder and leader of the YUF, for her active support and participation at the
meetings of the YUF, as well as her thought-provoking speech at the meeting,
while praying that God would continue to grant her longevity of life.
In
attendance at the meeting were former Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Chief Olu Falae; former Minister of Mines and Steel, Honourable
Sarafa Ishola; Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele,
Senator Tony Adefuye and Princess Bisi Sangodoyin.
attendance at the meeting were former Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Chief Olu Falae; former Minister of Mines and Steel, Honourable
Sarafa Ishola; Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele,
Senator Tony Adefuye and Princess Bisi Sangodoyin.
Others
were Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Senator Omololu Meroyi, Dr Kunle Olajide, Senator
Bode Olajumoke, Honourable Olaoluwatomi Soboyejo, Honourable Babasegun Saduku
and Prince Wole Otenaike.
were Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Senator Omololu Meroyi, Dr Kunle Olajide, Senator
Bode Olajumoke, Honourable Olaoluwatomi Soboyejo, Honourable Babasegun Saduku
and Prince Wole Otenaike.
Also at
the meeting were the chairman, board of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency
(FERMA), Engineer Jide Adeniji; members of the Yoruba community from Jos,
Plateau State; the representative of the Awoist movement in New York, United
States, Bari Salau; Mr Alabi Olusegun Obasanjo; Chief (Mrs) Abimbola
Lawal; president, National Association of Yoruba Students, Ayo Gbologe;
Barrister Muri Agboola, Alhaja Yetunde Aderibigbe, among others.
the meeting were the chairman, board of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency
(FERMA), Engineer Jide Adeniji; members of the Yoruba community from Jos,
Plateau State; the representative of the Awoist movement in New York, United
States, Bari Salau; Mr Alabi Olusegun Obasanjo; Chief (Mrs) Abimbola
Lawal; president, National Association of Yoruba Students, Ayo Gbologe;
Barrister Muri Agboola, Alhaja Yetunde Aderibigbe, among others.
Source: Tribune
