Yoruba leaders have taken a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari over what they described as his ethnocentric leadership style in administering the affairs of the country.
The Yoruba leaders and elders specifically accused President Buhari being behind the criminal activities of the Fulani in the country, stressing that the agenda of the Fulani is to enslave the entire Nigeria and make the country their colony.
They vehemently kicked against the Federal Government’s proposed Rural Grazing Area (RUGA), settlement for the use of cattle breeders in the South West part of Nigeria.
These formed part of the resolutions of the Yoruba Leaders of thought at the presentation of the translation of ‘Awo’, the autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo that took place Thursday, June 27, 2019, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
One of the Leaders, Chief Ayo Banjo said that at 90 years of age, he should not fear death again thus would be bold to say what he has to say.
According to Banjo: “Buhari is behind what Fulani is doing across the country. If we can’t speak the truth, God will not forgive us. Buhari is the President of Myetti Allah. Buhari’s body language is that Myetti Allah should continue what they are doing in Nigeria. Buhari doesn’t want restructuring. The best that happened to the Yoruba of a recent is the emergence of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. “Oyo people have done the best by voting for Makinde. No governor in the South West can confront Buhari the same way Bola Ahmed Tinubu can’t confront Buhari. Tinubu will not confront Buhari because he is thinking that Buhari will make him to succeed him. It is a deceit.
“Buhari is deceiving Tinubu for 2023. The security of this country is in Abuja. No Nigerian governor has power over the commissioner of police because the commissioner of police gets instruction from Abuja. No governor can help us because their hands are soiled except Makinde.
“The Governor of Kaduna State is busy killing the Christians in his state and nothing is done about it. When 800 Christians were killed in Kaduna, nothing was done and no arrest was effected. Look at what they did to Chief Olu Falae in Ondo State. They burnt his house and destroyed his farm”.
In his own speech at the event, Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun, who is the General Manager, Space FM, said the time has come for Yoruba people to liberate themselves from those that have colonized them the second time, stressing that Yoruba should free themselves from enslavement in Nigeria.
In the words of Osibogun; “Enough is enough. This suffering is enough. Yoruba should rise and set themselves free.”
Speaking in turn, the Founder of Bola Immaculate Group of Schools, Ibadan, Chief Bola Doherty, said there is the need for the Yoruba monarchs to go and talk with Buhari, stressing that there is no way that governors can confront the president in order not to deny them allocations.
According to her; “The Yoruba leaders and the Obas should go and tell Buhari how his name has been destroyed by the members of Myetti Allah. Buhari is the president of Myetti Allah and his people have taken over Nigeria, wreaking havoc and terrorizing. If you get there and they give you money, or brown envelope, reject it”.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams criticized the South West governors for not cooperating with him in solving the security challenges in the region.
Adams called on all the groups in Yorubaland to come together to find a lasting solution to the insecurity in Yorubaland.
In his remarks, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III urged the Yoruba race to give peace a chance, saying that he is ready to talk with Buhari on the way forward, adding that for Nigeria to continue to exist, true federalism has become necessary for the running of the affairs of Nigeria.
The Alaafin expressed disappointment at political office holders, who he noted are not following the footsteps of their forefathers, adding that while he might issues with Chief Awolowo when he was alive, such differences would not stop him from acknowledging the good things that Awolowo did for the Yoruba.
Earlier, Publisher of Alaroye Newspaper, Mr. Alao Adedayo set the agenda rolling as he invited the guest to talk about Yoruba.
While lamenting the state of the South West, Adedayo said Yoruba was at the forefront in everything: education, commerce, infrastructure and others when Nigeria was born, adding that in 1952 when politics started, Yoruba was making robust laws.
He further said; “Yoruba was the first to establish a bank, Agbonmagbe, which later became National Bank. In 1952, the foundation laid by Yoruba was being followed. In 1966, things started deteriorating and it is so surprising that things can be this bad. We the first have become the last because we are now divided.
“If we are organized and unite, we can’t be enslaved in our land. Now Fulani has started destroying us. How can we rebuild? This is the reason for this gathering”.
Also speaking at the event, Nigerian former Ambassador to The Netherlands, Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu expressed sadness that the South West governors are claiming that they are the children of Awolowo and none of them except Governor Makinde was present at the occasion.
