YORUBA leaders have reiterated their calls for restructuring, just as they harped on unity in order to forge a common front rather than agitation for self-determination.
Their positions were made known at the 2024 Yoruba National Day and celebration of a veteran actor, Chief Lere Paimo, a.k.a Eda Onile-Ola, at Professor Wole Soyinka Hall, Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan, on Monday.
The occasion, which had in attendance notable Yoruba leaders, including retired Archbishop, Methodist Church of Nigeria and Chairman of the Yoruba Unity Forum, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; the General Secretary, Yoruba Council of Elders, Chief Oladipo Oyewole; Chief Paimo, Chief Mrs Rita Lori and host of others, also witnessed the conferment of Ori-Olokun Oodua awards on notable personalities, including Ambassador (Dr) Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu; retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; human rights activist, Senator Shehu Sani; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hazmat, and many others.
Chairman on the occasion, Archbishop Ladigbolu, in his address, stressed the need for the Yoruba to be united and forge a common front.
He added that rather than agitating for self-determination, the Yoruba should embrace restructuring.
According to him, “Restructuring through the amendment of the existing 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended is the lasting solution to the multifaceted problems confronting the region.
“We should endeavour to look at where we are coming from, where we are and where we are heading to.
“We should give the present administration the needed support it requires for it to succeed.
“The National Assembly should be supported in its efforts to review the constitution, as this is the only way to correct the age-long injustice in the sharing of the nation’s wealth,” Ladigbolu said.
In his address, an Ibadan clan head, Chief Taye Ayorinde, submitted that rather than clamouring for the Yoruba nation, we should agitate for economic independence.
According to him: “Yoruba nation is not by force. We should look inward. Look at where we got it wrong and proffer lasting solution.
“We should develop means to boost food production through agric mechanisation. Enough of relying on other regions.”
Speaking in the same, an Itsekiri-born leader of Yoruba ancestry in Diaspora, Chief (Mrs) Rita Lori, stressed the need for the Yoruba to forge a common front in order to achieve the set goal.
She said: “There is a natural relationship between the Yoruba and Itsekiri. The two ethnic groups are co-joined from heaven.
“The relationship was cemented by the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the late Pa Alfred Rewane. The standard that they set is what we are following till date, especially those of us in the Diaspora.
“We were there for June 12 and NADECO. Chief Awolowo and Pa Rewane left behind a united Yoruba.
“The Yoruba should not allow the vision and philosophy of Baba Awolowo to die. They should be united “
The convener of the programme, Comrade Awa Bamiji, also harped on the unity of the Yoruba.
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