By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
A Pan-Yoruba socio/cultural organization, the Agbajowo Advocacy for Yoruba People’s Right (AAYPR) has advocated the need for more unity among the people of Yoruba extraction.
It says such move would further cement the bond of relationship in addition to engendering progress and cohesion of the race.
The group also disassociated itself from secession and break up of Yoruba race from the current republic of Nigeria.
The group stated this in a communique issued at the end of its monthly meeting held in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.
The communique was jointly signed by its National President and the Director of Media and Publicity, Otunba Muyideen Olamoyegun and Oluwasola Ibukun respectively.
The group stressed the need for Nigerians not to be distracted by the call by some Elders among the Yoruba race on the division, noting that there was no time Yoruba Elders meet and discuss about breaking away from the current Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The pan-Yoruba socio/cultural group said it is better to call for a restructuring of the country in all ramifications that would guarantee good standard of living of common men, saying this will further create an enabling environment for the people of the country.
“To be sincere with ourselves, the current clamouring for secession will not yield any positive result. What the country need to do at this present time is to tackle the current rise in the prices of food commodities, unemployment among youths and the epileptic power supply in some parts of the country.
“It is pathetic at this point that it is some elders in south-west that are championing the division, forgetting that we have five others group-political zones in this country. It is unwise for Yoruba nation to join any man to be clamouring for a division at this historical moment”
The AAYPR noted that the bond which binds the people of the race together for which they claimed common ancestry and acceptance of Oduduwa as their progenitor has provided the basis for all the people to regard themselves as one entity irrespective of linguistic, cultural, political and religious differences.
“The present situation where we have several associations being formed and are seen to be divided along political and group ideology is not healthy for the progress of our people.
“Since the demise of our highly revered sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Adekunle Ajasin, it has almost become impossible to get another person that will command the kind of respect the duo had when they were alive stepping into the shoes they left behind.
“Although, some of our leaders have attempted filling the vacuum left behind by these two leaders, the process has become almost impossible due to the influence of some politicians who infiltrated their ranks thereby truncating the vision of our past leaders.
“However, since the Yoruba race cannot continue to move like a ship without a captain, it has become important for all leaders of the race who meant well for the people to come together and form a common front while jettisoning their political affiliations in order for our race to be accorded it pride of place among other regions in the country,” the communique stated.
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