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Following the recent developments in the Yoruba World Congress (YWC), leaders of the various groups under the organisation have said there is no crisis within its fold.
It would be recalled that four protem executives of the organisation were recently removed from their positions.
But addressing a press conference in Ibadan on Tuesday, the leaders of the organisation, who spoke through Dr. Tunde Amusat, said the YWC is one and indivisible under the leadership of Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye.
He said: You will recall that on the 22nd of August, 2019, the leaders of almost fifty pan Yoruba self determination Organisations assembled in Ibadan to unanimously elect Prof. Banji Akintoye as the Leader of the Yoruba nation.
“Subsequently, the Yoruba World Congress came to be the umbrella organisation of the group with Prof Banji Akintoye as the President.
“Since that time, over a hundred Yoruba Organisations, both in Nigeria and in the diaspora have been admitted into the YWC (and still counting) as members.
“While celebrating the one year anniversary of YWC, we also want to reaffirm our unalloyed confidence in the leadership of Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye. We wish to salute his uncommon courage and uncompromising doggedness in translating the Yoruba redemption agenda and vision into action within the context of the finest Omoluabi ethos and traditions.
“Further to the above, our admission into the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) within a year of our existence, is novel and commendable. The Oodua nation project is on course. We appreciate the efforts of Prof. Banji Akintoye and other leaders in this respect. The protection of lives and properties of the Yoruba and other ethnic nationalities domiciled in the South West geo political zone is of paramount importance to YWC leadership.”
The leaders affirmed that there is no crisis within the YWC, adding, “we are not in contention with anyone or group. This is a family issue which is being resolved within the clan.”
“We remain unequivocally committed to the ideals of the Yoruba World Congress (YWC) as eloquently expressed by Prof. Banji Akintoye, which are to liberate the Yoruba race from the oppression and persecution which Nigeria represents, to establish a better, more promising future for our teeming youths and to ensure the peaceful achievement of the self-determination goals of the Yoruba nation.
“This is a gathering of all the groups which elected Prof. Banji Akintoye as Yoruba leader a year ago. They are the various groups which came together to form the Yoruba World Congress. These groups are gathered here in Ibadan, one year after that momentous event, to re-establish a vote of absolute confidence in the leadership of Prof. Banji Akintoye,” Amusat said.
They also commend the courage exhibited by the South West governors in the establishment of Amotekun in the midst of hostility and intimidation by the “powers that be.”
“The Water bill at the National Assembly represents a background manoeuvre to bring back RUGA and further appropriate more of the resources of Yorubaland. It therefore stands totally rejected by the YWC. In equal effect, the CAMA bill cannot stand because it puts the control of one religious group under another. It represents the ruthless deployment of power by the Muslim North to further continue the Islamisation and Fulanisation of Nigeria,” Amusat added.
Some of the leaders at the press conference include Sheik Abdulraheem Aduramigba;
Evangelist Kunle Adesokan; Princess Oyeronke Akinlolu; Architect George Akinola; Professor Wale Adeniran; Princess Tanimowo Okusaga among others.
Ekare (well done)!