Eminent Yoruba monarchs and leaders have reiterated their calls for restructuring of the nation as panacea to rising spate of insecurity in the South-West region.
Some of the leaders who made the calls during the presentation of the Yoruba language version of the book, AWO (the autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo), at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI) in Ibadan yesterday, included the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and other notable Yoruba leaders, including Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams; Yinka Odumakin, Prof. Banji Akintoye, among others.
The monarch said: “The Yoruba are proud of their harmonious relationship with indigenous Fulani which spread over centuries. It was unlike now when supposed cattle rearers are armed sophistically like soldiers. At that time, farming and rearing were complimentary to each other unlike where they are targeted against each other.
“As far as I am concerned, there is no solution to the current national challenge than restructuring of our federal system to the glorious old days with some modifications where necessary.”
Adebanjo said: “Governors cannot do restructuring. They cannot talk to Buhari and Buhari is the leader of Miyetti Allah. Those governors are powerless. State police cannot happen without restructuring. To save ourselves, we must fight for restructuring.”
Odumakin said: “Don’t give our land for Ruga settlements. When you give them land, they become chairmen. All governors in Yorubaland must not cede an inch of land for Ruga settlements, which the Federal Government is planning.
Adams, said: “We must not allow insecurity to overwhelm us. We must continue to agitate for restructuring. Let us the Yoruba leaders come together. No governor dares cede our land for cattle rearing. Let us co-operate.
However, Akintoye, who was the guest speaker, said the Yoruba could not be treated anyhow, destroyed and brought down. He, therefore, urged the youth to rise up to the occasion.
Meanwhile, daughter of Awolowo, Ambassador (Dr.) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, yesterday expressed her disappointment over the absence of governors from the South-West region at a book launch organised in honour of her father.
Awolowo-Dosunmu, in her presentation at the event, said it was disheartening that none of the governors invited was present at the event
“We called this gathering in the name of our father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I am so delighted to see the Alaafin of Oyo here.
“It is disheartening that only one state governor sent a representative. I don’t know whether the governors do not like Chief Awolowo.
I encourage Yoruba elders to be visionary and not forsake their visions. Awolowo never forsook his vision for the Yoruba race, and that’s why we’re all benefiting from it,” she said.
