Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada YORUBA leaders from various groups and organisations, including Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), among others on Wednesday met in Lagos to chart a way forward for Yoruba nation and also step up struggle for the restructuring of country under a federal system of government.
The 3- hour meeting tagged, Yoruba Summit and held at the Lekki residence of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, an Afenifere leader, who also presided, had personalities in attendance including Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, General Alani Akinrinade, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba; former deputy governor of Lagos State, Chief (Mrs.) Kofoworola Burknor- Akerele; Prof. Banji Akintoye, Prof. Bayo Williams, Dr. (Mrs.) Tokunbo Awolowo- Dosunmu, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Akande and Chief Goke Omisore.
Others are, Chief Kehinde Sofola (SAN), Dr. Femi Olajide, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, Chief Supo Sonibare, Dr. Amos Akingba, Otunba Gani Adams, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, among others.
Speaking after the closed- door meeting, Afenifere spokesperson, Mr. Odumakin, informed that the meeting was not about a certain Yoruba group, but of cross section of groups and organisations in Yoruba land, including all leaders that were in attendance and those that were not as well as those that were yet to come on board.
According to Odumakin, Yoruba leaders at the parley resolved on the need to step up the struggle for the restructuring of Nigeria by ensuring unity among those in attendance and those that were yet to be brought together in order to be able to speak with one voice on issues of common interest.
He, however, noted that the meeting was a precursor of a larger Yoruba Summit which was in the offing and would be held soon.
“It’s a meeting of Yoruba leaders, who have come together to look at the state of Yoruba nation within Nigeria. You can see the people, the who is who are here and we resolved on the need for the Yoruba to step up the struggle for the restructuring of Nigeria, to work on our unity among those who are here and to bring in those who are not here so that Yoruba can stand as one and to pursue the economic growth in Yoruba land.
“And towards this, Yoruba would be having a summit where all shades of Yoruba people that are not even here would gather.
“This one is not a meeting of any group. It is not a sectional meeting, it is a meeting of all Yoruba leaders, who have resolved that time has come for us to speak with one voice, with one vote and to navigate our way to a properly structured Nigeria, and we want to live under Federalism,” he said.
