Yoruba monarchs meet at Awo’s home, demand new generation of politicians

Yoruba monarchs led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi yesterday met at the residence of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, in Ikenne, demanding new generation of politicians ready to protect and defend interest of the Yoruba nation.
They spoke at a workshop organised by the Yoruba Unity Forum with the theme “State Of The Nation: Yoruba, Where Are We?”.
Ogunwusi expressed regret that there was sheer lack of unity in Yoruba nation, saying until Yoruba are united, Nigeria’s unity in diversity may never be accomplished.
The Ooni of Ife maintained that, tribal and ethnic crises in Nigeria have remained unabated because they tend to flow from the disunity among Yoruba leaders.
“We have allow deception, mistrust to divide us as a nation. It was the colonial masters that distorted our history. Yoruba nation is the home of civilization and structure of the political administration. We should be examples for other nation in Nigeria.”
On his part, Alaafin, represented by the Basorun Oyomesi, Yusuf Olayinka, equally agreed that the crop generation of politicians had failed, saying there was need to emulate Awolowo who according to him lived a selfless life.
Earlier in his address, the chairman of the forum, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, said the Yoruba nation had a role to play in the sustenance of Nigeria’s unity and put the nation on a stable course.
Other dignitaries who spoke at the workshop were Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Adetunji; Aare Ona-Kankafo, Chief Gani Adams; former governor of Oyo State, Victor Olunloyo; Senator Femi Okunrounmu; Chief Yinka Odumakin and Dr Tokunbo Dosunmu-Awolowo.