#Awo30YearsOn: Yoruba Leaders Describe Awolowo As Seer Of Nation’s Fortunes, Harp On Unity

Yoruba leaders have echoed the imperativeness of the renaissance, unity and resuscitation of the values of Yoruba race.These exponents who had converged on Ibadan, on

These exponents who had converged on Ibadan, on Thursday, to commemorate 30 years after the death of former Premier of the Western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, noted that focus on those imperatives would restore the sanity, prosperity and wealth of the Yoruba land.

Delivering the commemorative lecture entitled, “Unity Among Yorubas: Panacea for Regional Development and Political Advancement”, former Secretary-General of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun, attributed the subversion of Yoruba values and organised structure to military incursion and British imperialism.

Apart from the erosion of the Yoruba language by the military, Opadokun lamented that the values of honesty and fidelity in governance as in the days of Awolowo had gone on awol in the nation’s politics.

Calling for introspection into the buoyancy of the South West in agriculture as propagated by Awolowo, Opadokun decried the misery and poverty experienced by some Yorubas.

Speaking at the event organised by a non-governmental organisation, the Awolowo Wheel of Oasis Organisation (AWOO), Opadokun said: “The Yoruba people should stop opportunistic collaboration the wicked system that has held us down. We should take our destiny into our hands by looking inwards to provide for ourselves and work in such a manner to re-establish the prospect of prosperity, wealth in the Yoruba land.  We have the best land in the world.”

“Yoruba unity has been severely and negatively impacted upon with the corrosive nature of military adventurism in politics, as it was the military sojourn in politics that subverted some critical Yoruba native practices and conventions to our detriment through externally and centrally-imposed attitudes that negatively undermined Yoruba culture, tradition and custom.”

“Again, the cherished Yoruba tradition and culture of respecting elders have since waned irredeemably. Many young Yoruba offspring today prefer the foreign culture of the Western world, the atomistic lifestyle of those environments, which has proved harmful to white people themselves, resulting in high suicide rates in Europe and America.”

“In our very lifetime, 30 years down the line, post-Awolowo, Yoruba values have been subverted by negative external influences. Compromised today is the Omoluabi lifestyle, including non-fraternisation with proven deviants and people found guilty of stealing public and private funds or property and betrayers of friends and associates for personal, political and economic gains.”

The lecture had in attendance, National Vice Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engineer Segun Oni represented by a former gubernatorial candidate in Oyo state, Professor Soji Adejumo; Baale of Ekotedo, Taiye Ayorinde; Ambassador Yemi Farounbi; Executive Adviser, AWOO, Comrade Moshood Erubami; Agbaakin Olubadan of Ibadan, Chief Lekan Alabi; Chairman, Parliamentary, Oyo House of Assembly, Honourable Olusegun Ajanaku; and Chief of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Dr Gbade Ojo.

Speaking further,  Opadokun described Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a seer, one who saw yesterday, today and tomorrow, adding that Awolowo lived ahead of his time such that the country continued to suffer as a result of his demise.

‘Chief Obafemi Awolowo will remain a keynote study for a long time to come. He was the man that saw tomorrow, the veritable political prophet of his and our generation.”

Oni, who was chairman of the occasion harped on the need for unity of the Yoruba, warning against any form of competition.

He said such unity in togetherness was beneficial to the economy of the South West region.

 

 

Credit: Tribune