YORUBA leaders from various groups and organisations, including Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), among others, on Wednesday, met in Lagos to chart a way forward for the Yoruba nation and also step up struggle for the restructuring of country under a federal system of government.
The three-hour meeting tagged “Yoruba Summit” which was held at the Lekki residence of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, an Afenifere leader, who also presided, had personalities in attendance including Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, General Alani Akinrinade, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; former deputy governor of Lagos State, Chief (Mrs) Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; Professor Banji Akintoye, Professor Bayo Williams, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande and Chief Goke Omisore.
Others were Chief Kehinde Sofola (SAN), Dr Kunle Olajide, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, Chief Supo Sonibare, Dr Amos Akingba, Chief Gani Adams and Mr Yinka Odumakin.
Speaking after the meeting, Afenifere’s spokesperson, Mr Odumakin, disclosed that the meeting was not about a certain Yoruba group, but of cross section of groups and organisations in Yorubaland, including all leaders who were in attendance and those that were not as well as those who were yet to come on board.
According to Odumakin, Yoruba leaders at the parley resolved on the need to step up the struggle for the restructuring of Nigeria by ensuring unity among those in attendance and those who were yet to be brought together in order to be able to speak with one voice on issues of common interest.
He, however, noted that the meeting was a precursor to a larger Yoruba summit which would be held soon.
“It is a meeting of Yoruba leaders, who have come together to look at the state of Yoruba nation within Nigeria. You can see the people, the who-is-who, and we resolved on the need for the Yoruba to step up the struggle for the restructuring of Nigeria, to work on our unity among those who are here and to bring in those who are not here so that Yoruba can stand as one and to pursue the economic growth in Yorubaland.
“And towards this, Yoruba would be having a summit where all shades of Yoruba people that are not even here would gather.
“This one is not a meeting of any group. It is not a sectional meeting, it is a meeting of all Yoruba leaders who have resolved that time has come for us to speak with one voice, with one vote and to navigate our way to a properly structured Nigeria, and we want to live under federalism,” he said.
and then