Leaders of Yoruba race at the weekend expressed concerns over the socio-economic and political problems bedevilling the nation, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the country before 2023 general elections.
Arising from a crucial meeting held under the auspices of the Yoruba Summit Group (YSG) in Lagos, the leaders declared in a statement that unless the social, political and economic structures of Nigeria are restructured in line with the Independence Constitution of 1960, the unity, peace and development of Nigeria will continue to be a dream.
Those who attended the meeting included Afenifere Leader, Pa. Rueben Fasoranti, his deputy, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo, Leader of Yoruba World Congress (YWC), Professor Banji Akintoye, Chairman of renowned Yoruba intelligential group, Voice of Reason (VOR), Dr. Olufemi Adegoke, daughter of late sage, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, and the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams.
Others included former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe; Afenifere chieftains, Yinka Odumakin and Dr. Amos Akingba; former presidential aide, Chief Akin Osuntokun; retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief Tunji Alapini; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs)Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, among others.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Yoruba leaders accused the Buhari administration of frustrating the restructuring of the country.
In the communiqué issued by Mogaji Adejumo, Director of Media and Publicity, Yoruba Summit Group, they said: “The preponderance of permutations for 2023 presidency, zoning, selecting, rather than addressing the nature of the Nigerian union, the dilapidated structure of the farcical federation, never known to federalism, this unitary unworkable morass, we the Yoruba observe will only lead to the kind of chaos never before seen and experienced in history.
“We the Yoruba nation therefore reject the holding of a future general election before the restructuring of Nigeria fiscally and structurally. We state that the ship of state is veering off precariously into a precipice, and that Nigeria is at the very edge of a political subsidence.
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“We are persuaded that nothing short of restructuring can save this country. Any attempt to go ahead with elections in 2023 without addressing the issue of restructuring would spell doom for Nigeria.”
They commended the South West governors on the successful take off of the region’s informal security outfit, ‘Operation Amotekun’, stressing, “With the granting of licences for prospecting for gold in Yorubaland, we are aware of the dangers of banditry, kidnapping and sundry criminalities this portends.
“Yoruba nation has noted with great interest, the creation of the Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn security network in the South-West states.
“We extend our warmest felicitations to the governors who have started in earnest to fulfil the task of filling the huge gulf of various, serious insecurity issues plaguing our region. We hereby call on states yet to put this structure in place to do so in earnest. The Yoruba do not forget.”
On the recent death of first female Air Force combat pilot in Nigeria, the late Tolulope Arotile, who reportedly died at the Air Force Base, Kaduna, the leaders called on the Nigerian government to constitute an independent panel of inquiry to look into the death of the 25-year-old Okun-born combatant, alleging that there seemed to be more to the death of the late Arotile than being reported.
The leaders also warned the Buhari administration of dire consequences if the detained former Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, dies in military custody.
Others who signed the communiqué are HRH Ọba Oladipo Olaitan, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, Dr. Ebun Sonaiya, Mrs Tokunbo Ekukanim, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, Femi Adefemiwa, Otunba Aderemi Abdul, Chief Olufemi Kufo, George Akinola, Ademola Folarin, Chief Supo Shonibare, Basọ́run Segun Sanni and Willy Thomas.
