Owing to the seeming disunity among Yoruba leaders in the country, a Yoruba group, Apapo Omo Oodua Oodua has urged leaders in the Southwest to come together in the interest of the race.
The group in a press release signed by Comrade Tajudeen Gbolagade and Comrade Tunji Adejumo and made available to journalists, the group appealed to Yoruba leaders to put aside their differences and come together in the interest of the race.
The Group warned that disunity among Yoruba leaders will continue to affect the growth and development of the race among other ethnic tribes in Nigeria.
“Yorubas are no doubt the most sophisticated and most enlightened tribe in Nigeria but our leaders have allowed personal interests to override collective interest. That is why today the race moves in cycles. It will be in the best interest of Yoruba people if our leaders can come together and work together for the overall development of race.”
The Group added: “It’s very unfortunate that Yoruba leaders are not working together, not to talk of going the same direction. The crop of Yoruba leaders we have around today are individuals that are consumed by greed, pride and ego. These are people responsible for the problems facing Yorubas now. They are ready to sacrifice the race on the altar of politics. It is such a shame that majority of those claiming to be following the footsteps of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo are fake Awoists. None of them can truly be called a leader because of their antecedents.”
The Group added that the 2019 presidential election is yet another avenue for the Yoruba leaders to unite by speaking with one voice and go same direction to elect a president that will protect the interest of the race.
“Yorubas have been cheated in the scheme of things in Nigeria because our leaders are sowing embers of disunity among themselves and other groups. And if we failed to get it right and come together in 2019; we will suffer for it. Our people are suffering today just because some of these leaders have mortgaged the resources that ordinarily should have gone to many. In the midst of plenty our people are suffering and yet these crops of leaders have not found useful to speak with one voice and chart a beneficial way forward for Yorubas.”
Speaking further, the group appealed to all Yoruba groups to desist from actions capable of bringing disunity among them; saying that the progress and development of the race lies in the unity of all groups in Yorubaland.
“Apapo Omo Oodua Oodua believes that Yoruba people can achieve the dream of its founding fathers if all Yoruba leaders and other groups can work together. We’re using this medium to appeal to our leaders to come together in the interest of the race.”
The Group, Apapo Omo Oodua Oodua comprises of OODUA ACTION GROUP, YAM, OODUA PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT, OPM, OODUA REDEMPTION ALLIANCE, ORA, USEPO, OPC FASHEUN, YORUBA YOUTH MOVEMENT, YYM, FYCC ALAJOBI, AWARI OMO OODUA, OPC NEW ERA, AGBAJOWO, OCM, MOJIYAGBE OODUA VANGUARD, MOV, ORM and OODUA LIBRATION MOVEMENT, OLM.