Group Calls S-West Aspirants To Shun Disunity,Violence Over 2023 Presidency

A Diaspora – based Socio-cultural Organization, the Yoruba Global Council (YGC),has called on all the 2023 Presidential Aspirants from Yoruba Extraction to shun any act capable of creating disunity, violence in Yorubaland but rather come together as family and present a trustworthy candidate that will represent the interest of all.

YGC, a foremost and  prestigious Yorubas group which was established to advance the course and interest of the Yoruba nation through the promotion of unity, mutual trust, trade liberalization, peaceful co-existence and interactions with other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and the Diaspora.

The group in a statement jointly signed by its Spokesperson,Prof. Lere Amusan and the General Secretary, Prince Segun Akanni, urged all Yoruba presidential aspirants, particularly those contesting under the auspices of the ruling party,APC such as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the incumbent Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Pastor Tunde Bakare to take caution in their quests to become the presidential candidate that will represent the party in the 2023 general elections, stressed that they should see the race as an opportunity for the Yoruba nation to produce the next president of the country, now charged them to speak in one voice as brothers who believe in the progress of the Yoruba race and Nigeria at large.

“We are also committed to deepening democracy by fostering the ethos, values and healthy practices of representative government in the South West and Nigeria in general.

“We seek to use this medium to send strong admonishment to all presidential aspirants of the Yoruba extraction, especially those in the ruing All Progressives Congress (APC), to shy away from divisive or politics of acerbity and eschew electoral violence as the country prepares for the 2022 primaries and 2023 general polls.  To put issues in proper perspectives, YGC warns all Yoruba presidential aspirants, particularly those in APC such as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the incumbent Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Pastor Tunde Bakare to be circumspect in the way and manner they go about their political ambition.

“They need to, at this momentous time of our history,  resist the game plan of the fifth columnists and foes of the Yoruba nation who are bent on taking the presidency away from the Yoruba come 2023. YGC believes that 2023 presents another golden opportunity for the Yoruba to produce the next President for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and divisive politicking or politics of ego and self-centeredness among those jostling for the number one seat must not be allowed to jeopardize such prospect.

“History is replete with circumstances in which the Yoruba lost their coveted territory of Ilorin to the Fulani owing to over-ambition and egoistic attitude demonstrated by Atiba. It would be succinctly recalled that it was the over ambition of Atiba to become the Alaafin, at the expense of his brother, Alaafin Oluewu,  that led to the painful loss of Ilorin to the Fulani today. Another trait of disunity played out during the June 12 struggle in which prominent Yoruba sons and leaders left Chief MKO Abiola in the lurch, thereby making the race lose the most exalted seat in the land. Must the Yoruba presidential aspirants and committed stakeholders to the Yoruba course and interest allow history repeat itself by allowing charlatans and political contractors infiltrate their camps and lead them to perdition?  YGC says categorical NO to the ploy and Machiavellian scheme of the adversaries of the Yoruba nation this time around!

“In view of the aforesaid, YGC enjoins all Yoruba presidential aspirants, especially the APC Heavyweights, to  sheath their swords, come together, play ball and find a common ground through which a credible, reliable, responsible and capable Yoruba son will be fielded to represent our collective interest and aspirations as well as those of the larger federation –  Nigeria. YGC is not in any way averse to the idea of one federated Nigeria but on the proviso that such a federation is built upon egalitarianism, justice, equity, inclusiveness and sense of belonging for all and sundry”.

Spokesperson,Prof. Lere Amusan said it has been observed over the years that every election cycle poses all sorts of potent threats such as political assassination, brigandage, hate speech, gruesome abduction and grandstanding which have been working against the sustainability of the nascent democracy .

Saying all of these unnecessarily heat ups in the politics have created palpable fear in the minds of the electorate – a development that compels them (voters) to abdicate their franchise on Election Day.

YGC while reiterating its committment to uphold the unity and progress of the Yoruba nation, wrote that it’s recognized the qualities possessed by the aspirants and stressed that all of them cannot occupy the seat at the same time but rather advised them to agree on a common goal by featuring a candidate to represent the interest of all.

“We are utterly aware of the qualities possessed by each of the Yoruba presidential aspirants that have declared their interest to run and we repose sheer confidence in their sense of leadership, charisma, capacity, responsibility, diligence and commitment towards a better Nigeria and Yoruba nation, but everyone of you cannot be president at the same time. Hence, a common ground must be sought and worked upon which will bring to the fore the most capable, reliable and trustworthy Yoruba candidate for the presidency”.

In the collective interest of the Yorba race both at home and in Diaspora to fostering peace in Yoruba land,YGC therefore admonished all illustrious sons and daughters of the Yoruba nation particularly those seeking elective positions  to embrace unity and a sense of political camaraderie by according Yoruba interest premium priority ahead of personal ambition.