Yoruba nation in disarray - Daniel

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/mar/31/601.html

THE Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, has described the Yoruba nation as one in disarray, contending that the people had no common agenda in sight. Daniel, who spoke on Tuesday at the meeting of the South-West governors and traditional rulers held at the Governor's Lodge in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said that it was high time the Yoruba race stopped basking in the past glory when the past was daily turning into indictment in this present age.

He noted that Yoruba people were blessed with a good physical environment and rich culture, adding that they also had both human and natural resources to be a leading race.

The meeting had in attendance governors of Osun and Ekiti states, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Mr Segun Oni respectively; the deputy governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Alli Olanusi and Chief Adebayo Faleti, who represented Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State.

Traditional rulers in attendance included the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Adetona; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba (Dr) Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo.

Daniel said politics must be used for the overall development of the citizenry and not for personal impoverishment, adding that it should be a means of bringing the much-needed Yoruba unity and progress.

According to Daniel, "should we continue to sit idly and look while our race is losing out in Nigeria's political economy? Politics must be for the development of our people and not their impoverishment. Politics must never be allowed to polarise us.
"Rather, it must be a means of bringing the much-needed unity, development and progress to Yoruba race. Our past leaders used the instrumentality of politics to give us leverage in the national politics of Nigeria," he added.
At the end of a closed door session, the Aloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Oladele Olashore, disclosed that a committee was set up to discuss on the unity of Yoruba nation.
The monarch said the meeting was not a political one, adding that it was about developing the Yoruba race.
He said he hoped that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, would attend the next meeting.
The monarch commended the convener of the meeting, Governor Daniel, for the initiative and said the traditional rulers were ready to work with the governors in the South-West to ensure unity and development.
Earlier, eminent Yoruba leaders and governors converged on the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, to celebrate the 20th remembrance anniversary and launch of the complete musical works of the doyen of Nigerian theatre, the late Hubert Ogunde.

Source: Nigerian Tribune (