The wife of the Vice President, Republic of Gambia, Her Excellency, Mrs. Mariam Darling Jallow, has urged Nigerians in Gambia to continue in their efforts to add value to the economy of the country, assuring that the government would always provide a business environment suitable for Nigerians wherever they were in Gambia.
Mrs Jallow, who was the Mother of the Day at the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) summit held in Gambia, gave this assurance, even as she noted the similarities in the culture between her tribe in Gambia and that of the Yoruba in Nigeria, saying that such was a big inspiration in the quest for unity in Africa.
According to her, the two tribes have a common heritage, especially in their culture and tradition, noting that Yoruba are very humble and accommodating as they remain the good ambassadors of the race.
The vice president’s wife, therefore, urged all to be united in ensuring that there is peace and unity among Nigerians in Gambia.
“The Yoruba are very humble and accommodating. Wherever they are in the world, they remain the good ambassadors of the race. They have demonstrated that good gesture with the grand reception and honour given to me today at this event.
“So, I urge you all to be united in ensuring that there is peace and unity among Nigerians here in Gambia,” she said.
The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, who is also the global convener of OPU, in his speech, equally urged Nigerians in Gambia to be good ambassadors of the country, assuring that the group led by him would continue to promote the cultural identity of the Yoruba race across the world.
“OPU has, since its inception in 2011, transited into a global brand with branches in 102 countries across the six continents in the world,” he said.
The Yoruba generalissimo highlighted the significance of unity among Nigerians in the diaspora, maintaining that they were the ambassadors of the country in Gambia and wherever they were abroad.
Iba Adams reiterated his call on the need for regionalism, insisting that Nigeria’s destiny and progress can be achieved through restructuring, with the federating units developing at their own pace.
According to him, Nigerians are aware of the importance of restructuring but sadly noted that the politicians were avoiding the reality of the situation in the country.
“Nigeria must be restructured in line with the 1960/1963 constitutions, where each of the region or federating units will develop at their own pace. This is our position on the political situation in Nigeria, and we stand by this political ideology,” Adams said.
The Mayor of Banjul City in Gambia, Mayor Roney Malick Lowe, also gave insights into the qualities exhibited by Nigerians in Gambia.
She described Nigerians as very hard-working and resourceful people, adding that Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe, come together as one to add value to the country where they are.
Earlier in his remarks, Asiwaju Kunle Ojikutu, a legal practitioner in Banjul Gambia who was the guest speaker, also spoke on the topic titled “Significance of regionalism in a thoroughly restructured Federalism,” which highlighted various positives and motivations that underlie the arguments made in favour of regionalism, stressing the need for a better approach to governance in Nigeria.
Ojikutu pointed out that it was the desire of the people to bring the government closer to them and the concern that the government in state capitals neither knew nor cared sufficiently about what was happening in the other parts of the state.
The legal practitioner, while highlighting the advantages of regionalism, listed them to include decentration and autonomy, cultural preservation, economic development, improved governance, as well as conflict resolution, among others.
This was just as he affirmed that for Nigeria to achieve her great potential, “certain considerations are needed to be made in order to salvage the country.”
The OPU African Union Coordinator, Chief Segun Ogunpitan, who had earlier declared the event open, urged other African countries where OPU is located to sustain the standard of summit across Africa.
He, however, declared that the 2025 edition of the summit will be held in Egypt.
In his closing remarks, Coordinator of OPU in Gambia, Abdul Akeem, expressed appreciation to all the guests for finding time to be part of the programme, saying that Gambia had been a very peaceful country where people of various tribes and countries thrive to add value to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the country.
Apart from the executive members of OPU in Gambia, other prominent dignitaries that were present at the event include Ayinba Joy Ayomide Adams; Atoloye Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Babajide Tanimowo; Bareejiro Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Dauda Asikolaiye; and the Yoruba community in Gambia, among others.
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