We’ll no longer tolerate political godfatherism in South West — Yoruba in Diaspora

A non-partisan socio-cultural organization, National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America, has said that Yorubas in Diaspora will no longer tolerate political godfatherism in any South Western States, including Kwara and Kogi States.

This was part of the resolutions unanimously passed by participants at an interactive webinar session held via Zoom to commemorate this year’s annulment of June 12 1993 presidential election, organised by the Egbe Omo Yoruba North America.

The conference, which had as participants, some founding fathers, the National Executive Council leaderships, members of Egbe Omo Yoruba in North America and Yoruba from other regions of the world including Nigeria, was with a call to Yoruba ethnic associations to unite and build Yoruba indigenous territories in Nigeria.

The keynote speaker, Professor Segun Gbadegesin, explained that the struggle during the annulment was in response to the injustice from the Nigeria government, not on the reason of ethnicity as misrepresented by other ethnic groups in Nigeria.

He opined that Yoruba have always been championing the cause of justice, truth, and honesty in every sphere of socio-cultural framework that is capable of developing Nigeria as a sovereign Nation.

June 12, 1993 according to him, represents the vanguard of idea for the attainment of justice in Yoruba land, and in Nigeria in general. He reiterated that Egbe Omo Yoruba North America got involved in the protests against annulment because of injustice.

Other resolutions reached by the participants include that Egbe Omo Yoruba will continue to fight for the justice for all in Nigeria and developing plan whose goal will focus on the security, peace, and development in Yoruba lands

 “Yoruba in North America are beginning to do a soul searching for the emancipation of Yoruba people, it is therefore calling on Yoruba sons and daughters in diaspora to support the efforts toward building a formidable Yoruba States

“That Yoruba associations in North America through their members should begin contribution to the Yoruba Development Fund for the security, peace, and development as reflected in the recent Covid-19 palliative program in different Yoruba communities including Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo States.

 “That Nigeria is going through unimaginable problems in areas of social services, economic system, and political stability. Yoruba have mostly been at the receiving end, as well as being exponentially reduced to the background in the distribution of national wealth, development of social infrastructure, and participation in the political structure of Nigeria.”

They also noted that Nigerian current leaderships represent the hallmark of hitherto injustices affecting every Yoruba person, and that Governors and political hawks in the South West have compromised on the “Omoluabi” ethos embedded in Yoruba unity of purpose for the economic and political development.

They, however, maintained that Yoruba will continue to participate in Nigeria politics until they are able to actualise the dreams of the founding fathers who have sacrificed their lives for the independent Yoruba Nation.

“That when Yoruba become autonomous in determining her political structure, economic distribution, as well as providing social justice, black race all over the world will benefit from the wealth of proactive leadership style.”  (Sunday Independent)