Prominent Yoruba leader and chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition
(NADECO), Ayo Adebanjo, has expressed the view that the Yoruba are responsible
for their perceived marginalisation in the current political dispensation.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Independent in Lagos, Adebanjo
alleged that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) sacrificed the interest of
the South West region by voting for a Northern candidate when they had the
opportunity of electing the Speaker from their zone.
According to him, the disunity among the Yoruba, especially on party
differences, was responsible for the current marginalisation being suffered in
the sharing of appointments at the national level.
He also berated those at the forefront of Youruba emancipation, saying they
only talk to seek relevance and get appointments from the Federal Government.
He accused ACN leaders of allowing their personal interests to override the
interest of the entire region.
“There is no doubt that we are marginalised but the Yoruba people have
marginalised themselves. The politicians of my class are very few in the
country because all those who are claiming to be champions of Yoruba today only
talk in order to deceive the people.
“ACN will say they are marginalised, but when they had an opportunity to
elect the Speaker of the House of Representatives which was zoned to the South
West, they allowed party interest to override Yoruba interest.
“The Peoples Democratic Pary wanted to choose a Yoruba person but because of
selfish interests in the ACN, that did not materialise.
“What is wrong in that Yoruba woman becoming Speaker even if she is a member
of PDP?
“If not for the support the so-called Yoruba champion in the ACN gave to
Tambuwal, he couldn’t have become the Speaker but they are counting on Tambuwal
politically to come and join the ACN, therefore they sacrificed the interest of
the Yoruba people.
“And these are the same people calling themselves leaders of Yoruba and
crying that they have been marginalised.
“When they had the opportunity, what did they do with it? As far as I am
concerned, they are only shouting Yoruba being marginalised for their own
selfish interest,” Adebanjo added.
