GOVERNORS ARE WARNED NOT
TO COMPROMISE YORUBA INTEREST
by Yoruba in Diaspora
The Yoruba in Diaspora held an extraordinary
meeting in London, on Saturday, March 12, 2005, to review the state of
the Yoruba Nation in relation to the importance of presenting a common
Yoruba Agenda at the on going National Political Reform Conference (NPRC).
In particular, the disturbing news that Yoruba Governors from Ekiti,
Ondo and Oyo States are playing party politics with the future of the
Yoruba race was discussed in the well attended meeting.
The meeting reviewed and concluded that the
Governors who are treating with levity the issue of having a common
agenda for the Yoruba Nation are losing focus and their actions could
sell the Yoruba short.
Members equally expressed concerns that the agenda
of most of the nationalities and regions, like those of the Yoruba had
been overtly expressed in many fora. Hence
the argument that the Yoruba should not present an agenda until they
see other nationalities doing so is illogical as we suspect some
hidden agenda. Members wondered why Yoruba Nation which has always
been a pace setter in the progress of Nigeria would at this critical
moment shy away from her responsibility.
The meeting expressed concerns about the Governor’s
lack of ability to differentiate between the vanity of party politics
and the need not to sacrifice the long-term collective interest of the
Yoruba Race on the altar of such vanity and selfishness. Strong views
were expressed that the Governors are undermining the long-term
collective interest of the Yoruba Race in an attempt to appease their
political godfather - General Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo. In particular,
members held the view that Obasanjo is softening Yoruba position as
part of his appeal to the Caliphate to allow him in power beyond year
2007.
The meeting reviewed the political career of their
son, Obasanjo and expressed its admiration for his courage as much as
its regret for his consistent lack of understanding of the true nature
of the balance of power problem in Nigeria and the true intentions of
the enemies of the Yoruba Nation. As such, the meeting took the
position that while Obasanjo may be doing his best within the limits
of his understanding, the survival of the Yoruba race could not be
based on his limited insight.
The meeting passed the following resolutions:
That it is essential that delegates are given an
authentic agenda agreed upon by the Yoruba Nation to take to the
National Political Reform Conference (NPRC). This would ensure that
delegates have a clear mandate not subjected to individual
interpretations.
Such clarity of purpose would help to promote the
Yoruba unity, and avoid rancour among the Yoruba as a result of the
outcome of such conference. The meeting affirmed that the two
critical issues of having an autonomous Yoruba Region and the adoption
of the Parliamentary system of government that the Governors are
asking the selected Yoruba delegates to abandon form the basis of the
Yoruba interest in the ongoing dialogue at Abuja. The Yoruba Nation
cannot compromise on these two issues and they cannot be subject of
negotiations.
Therefore, we the Yoruba in Diaspora condemn in the
strongest term the actions of these Yoruba Governors as unpatriotic,
treasonable and are therefore unfit to be trusted as true
representatives of the Yoruba.
The meeting concluded that the Yoruba Agenda, which was prepared
by the
Chief Akinjide/Professor Akinyemi-led committee as a basis for the
Yoruba contribution to the debates at the NPRC is sound and that it
should have the support of all well-meaning Yoruba sons and
daughters.
We
condemn the attempts by some Yoruba Governors to impose their own
selfish, ill-conceived and unclear agenda on the selected delegates.
These governors are lacking in focus and political vision; and are
reminded that going to the NPRC without a strong, unambiguous and
clearly defined Yoruba Agenda will seriously undermine our long-term
collective interest.
The resolution of the issues contained in the
original Yoruba Agenda would determine the continued co-existence of
the Yoruba Race within Nigeria. The issues of Regionalism and
Parliamentary system of government that the Governors are asking the
selected Yoruba delegates to jettison are the very basis for the
participation of the Yoruba Race in the ongoing dialogue at Abuja.
These two concepts are very dear to the Yoruba.
The meeting appealed to the selected Yoruba
delegates not to waiver but to be resolute to raise and pursue
vigorously to the logical conclusion the questions of TRUE FEDERALISM,
REGIONALISM, SELF-DETERMINATION, RESOURCE CONTROL, REGIONAL POLICE,
PALIAMENTARISM, and other crucial issues that would make it possible
constitutionally for the respective component nationalities to develop
at its own pace without let or hindrance.
The meeting also commended the activities of
Afenifere and the Yoruba Council of Elders in working together for the
common interest of Yoruba Nation.
The meeting affirmed that the interest of the
Yoruba transcends those of the Governors and that the selected Yoruba
delegates should seek to work for posterity rather than the vanity of
short-term political gains of individuals. The selected Yoruba
delegates should remember that posterity would not forgive them if
they betray the Yoruba CAUSE this time around.
Contact Persons
Dr. Ayo Owoade;
E-Mail: owoade@btinternet.com
Mr. T. Akinola;
E-Mail: takinola@hotmail.com
Otunba M.
Akinfolarin; E-Mail: morakin@lineone.net
Mr. J. Akinjobi;
E-Mail: jidetide@hotmail.com
Mr. F. St
James; E-Mail: oluomoekun@yahoo.co.uk
Mr. R. O.
Ajiboye; E-Mail: olu58@hotmail.com
Alhaji O. Musa; E-Mail:
fommat2004@yahoo.co.uk
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