By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has called on the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and all South West Governors to brighten the political fortune of Yorubaland ahead of 2023 general elections.
The monarch expressed disappointment over the raging division among Yoruba Political Leaders ahead of next year general elections.
Oluwo said he was surprised at the magnitude of the sharp division most especially among Yoruba Political Leaders in the ruling APC and the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it is a clear demonstration of disunity.
Oba Akanbi enjoined Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to reunite his political house in the interest of Yoruba race.
“Reuniting the Yorubaland political forces in the ruling APC can be achieved by subduing individual ego of its actors. This is the most critical time in the political history of Yorubaland. As a father, I’m worried. Yoruba Socio elite and socio political platforms should gear up. I appeal to Asiwaju to play his fatherly role as usual to salvage the political destiny of Yorubaland. We must not make another mistake. The golden opportunity is here.”
A statement by Oluwo through his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, further read: “Personally, I’m disappointed in the political leaders of Yorubaland. The sharp division amongst them will unavoidably be to the disadvantage of our race. The curse must be stoned. This is the most critical time in the political history of Yoruba race.
“I called on the South West APC and PDP, the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the pioneer acting chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, Vice President Osinbajo, all Southwest Governors and ministers, ex and serving, to suppress their ego and sustain the political strength of Yorubaland. If Yorubas fail 2023 poll, it will have a perennial touch on the future political fate of our race. As a traditional father, I observe keenly. And when elders are in the market, the child’s head must not be drooped [Agba Kiiwa Loja, ki Ori Omo tuntun o wo]. Watching them going to the primary with the sharp division is synonymous with watching your children going out naked. What honour will such bring to the father?
“My assessment depicts a house divided within itself. It is a single house of a leader. Most of the prominent aspirants from Yorubaland in the ruling party are from the same house, graduated from the same school of thought. As such, expected to have similar agenda for the nation. The agenda can be harmonised for a single candidate to have a victorious primary outing. I have the hope it is not late to re-roof the linking roof and mend the cracking wall. It is left to all the political leaders, all of them.
“Yoruba should present a formidable and intimidating candidate whose credit and merit cut across the nation. The handwriting on the wall is clear. We should bury our ego to move mountain. Missing the golden opportunity will be a collective failure. I’m hopeful the ball has not crossed the bar.
“We need an urgent Yoruba Political Meeting. Only this, I think can prevent us dancing naked to the market place and come home barefooted. I appeal to all the stakeholders involved to prevent the rain of doom on the political fortune of Yorubaland by putting our house in order. It is not too late. But tomorrow may be.”