DAMISI OJO, Akure
Piqued by incessant kidnapping, raping of women and underage girls, wanton killing and other vices, the Coalition of Yoruba Interests Group (CYIG) has called for unity among Yoruba that would ensure self-defence coupled with self determination.
The groups that are stakeholders in the Yoruba Nation in a meeting attended by participants across the world, said it was time for Yoruba people to wake up and boldly forward to revive their true destiny.
This, according to them, is by actualising self determination for the Yoruba Nation to forestall the impending genocide being perpetrated by the Fulani.
They said the purpose of coming together now of all Yoruba groups was to foster unity and speak with one voice.
The event was initiated by eminent Yoruba brightest stakeholders including Emeritus Professor Wande Abimbola, while Professor Banji Akintoye, Akogun Tola Adeniyi, and many illustrious sons and daughters of Oduduwa were in attendance.
In his speech, Chairman of the occasion, Prof Abimbola charged the Yoruba to come together as a united force and face the criminals intent in destroying their ancestral homeland through pervasive insecurity characterised by kidnapping, raping of women and underage girls, wanton killing and other vices.
He lamented that the Muhammad Buhari government had pretended not to see the callous genocide going on in the South West and South East of Nigeria.
In his own contribution, the leader of the Yoruba, Emeritus Professor of History, Banji Akintoye, gave historical antecedent of the Fulani and their idea to wipe out the people of the South West and South East.
He said the Fulani did not have land they could call their own in Africa and as such want to destroy other tribes to enable their callous ambition.
He endorsed the activities of the Coalition of Yoruba Interests Group.
In his Keynote address titled: “ACTIONS OF VIRTUOUS PEOPLE AT A PERILOUS TIME”, the Global Coordinator of the Oodua Action Movement (OAM), Otunba Demola Edward, said it was obvious that a government that cannot care for the living is incapable of planning for the unborn, hence the need for the emerging Yoruba Nation which should be driven by vision conceptualized by men and women who are above average.
According to him, only those who can operate at higher mental level, with outstanding antecedents to support it should be at the helm of Yoruba affairs.
He also advised that the Yoruba Nation must resist attempts by ambitious individuals in pursuit of personal self-aggrandizement at the detriment of its citizenry from attaining the pinnacle of our Nation’s power.
His words: “It is our humble opinion that people-oriented visions should be about the common good of those being represented by their elected officers. Suffices to say such ideal is better for the government of the people by the people and for the people.
“Our vision for a better society is for us to ensure that those who cannot separate vision from ambition, and those who are incapable of conceptualizing a vision should not emerge as leaders in Yoruba Nation”, he said
He further said the Yọruba should aim “to steer the Yoruba Nation away from a potential rudderless state of affair evident in Nigeria now than any other time in our history as it became apparent that the Fulani supported by the Federal Government of Nigeria are hell bent in taking over our ancestral homeland because of the natural resources for which the southwest is well endowed.”
Edward, however, appealed to all Yoruba to work together, saying: “We consider the unity of the Yoruba nation as the key to our victory. And in tandem with the Yoruba dictum that states, Ka f’owo we owo ni owo fi n mo.
” It is, therefore, pertinent that all Yoruba of various interests group should come together at this crucial and very critical time in our history to chart a new course for our nation.”
Also, veteran journalist, Akogun Tola Adeniyi, in his contribution, said the programme was well conceived and that the Fulani need to be sent out of the Southwest states
