Our members not involved in Oyo secretariat attack — OPU

The foremost pan-Yoruba diaspora organization, Oodua Progressives Union (OPU), has dissociated itself from the self-acclaimed Yoruba Nation agitators’ Saturday invasion of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

OPU made its position known in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Chief Victor Mobolaji Adewale, a copy of which was made available to newsmen on Tuesday. The statement emphasized that the group is purely a Yoruba socio-cultural organization currently present in 98 countries across six continents, with the vision to promote Yoruba culture, peace, and unity among the Yoruba diaspora.

According to him, OPU, in pursuing its goals, advocates for the restructuring of Nigeria into federating units tied to regionalism. He asserts that the group has never called for self-determination, aligning its stance with the vision of its global convener, Iba Gani Adams, which “is about true federalism solely based on regionalism.”

“Since its inception in 2011, OPU has been at the vanguard of promoting the cultural identity of the Yoruba race in the diaspora.

“Our diaspora organization has been projecting the Yoruba positively to the world, leveraging its strengths and global network to seek unity and progress for the Yoruba race in the diaspora.

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“Our vision is to promote Yoruba culture, peace, and unity among the Yoruba in the diaspora, and in doing so, we stand for the restructuring of Nigeria into federating units tied to regionalism.

“OPU has never called for self-determination. Our global convener, Iba Gani Adams’ vision and ideals are clearly spelled out, focusing on true federalism solely based on regionalism,” Adewale stated.

“We are not against the system, and we have been fulfilling our dreams through many of our programs, including the annual OPU World Congress, held across the Southwest region of Nigeria. The last congress was held in Osogbo, where many people benefited from the free health and humanitarian services provided by the organization.

“OPU is not against any group or organization’s ideology, but we stand for restructuring based on regionalism,” he added.

Meanwhile, Adewale expressed regret that some agents of distraction had spread lies by mentioning his name and linking him to the trending story regarding the attack by the Yoruba Nation agitators.

He denied the online platform’s claim that he was the deputy coordinator of the Yoruba Nation agitators and deputy interim president, stating that such a report was baseless.

“The online platform mentioned my name as the deputy coordinator of the Yoruba Nation agitators and deputy interim president.

“There was a confusion regarding the first two names of the man referred to as the coordinator and deputy president of the Yoruba Nation group.

“I have received numerous phone calls from various quarters regarding the publication by OPR news.

“My name is Chief Mobolaji Victor Adewale, and the man sworn in via a viral video last Saturday as interim leader of the Democratic Republic of Yoruba Nation is Mobolaji Olawale Akintola Omokore,” he said.

“I am in no way related to the deputy coordinator and deputy president of the Dupe Onitiri-led Yoruba Nation agitators who hoisted their flags at the Oyo State House of Assembly.

“However, I need to clear my name, and I have instructed my lawyers to write to the publishers and request a proper retraction of the publication.

“All my life, I have lived in Sweden for the past 30 years, engaging in my legitimate business as a transporter. I have never joined any organization except the OPU, and I have risen through the ranks to become the coordinator of Sweden, Europe, and presently, the publicity secretary of the OPU.

“Nevertheless, as the publicity scribe of the OPU, we are determined to keep the hope of the Yoruba race alive by advocating for true federalism based on regionalism,” he stated.