Leaders and members of the ‘Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Struggle’ have passed vote of confidence on the administration of President Bola Tinubu and noted that they would give the new presidency the opportunity of righting the wrongs of previous governments against the Yoruba people.
This assertion was contained in a statement personally signed by a former Deputy Leader of the group, Wale Adeniran after his return to Nigeria from exile.
Adeniran, who left Nigeria in May 2021 alongside another leader of the group, Banji Akintoye, his wife and daughter to the Republic of Benin, said he returned home to work with like-minds on how to make Yoruba land a land of prosperity and the shining light of Africa.
He announced the formation of Association of Progressive Professionals and Academics, a body which he said comprises of his former colleagues in the academics, medical science and the business world.
Adeniran said APPA held its inaugural meeting last week at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun-State to reappraise the state of development in Yoruba land and reached a consensus to give the Tinubu presidency a chance to right the wrong of the previous government against the Yoruba people.
Parts of the statement directed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu read, “I bring to you sincere and warm felicitations on your landmark electoral victory as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your inauguration as President of Nigeria on Monday, May 29, 2023 was unprecedented, in the sense that, in the political history of Nigeria, you are the first Yoruba politician to attain the feat of becoming a duly elected political head of Nigeria.
“Mr. President, we salute your uncommon courage, bravery, tenacity, ingenuity and political sagacity in navigating the complex Nigerian political terrain. In the face of seemingly insurmountable odds you demonstrated an uncanny sense of humour.
“We wish to recall that just as you played a pivotal role in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) during the Abacha era in the struggle to ensure the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria, and even going into exile, some of us have been in the forefront of the struggle for Yoruba self-determination in recent times when we felt that our people were confronted with an existential threat.
“However, your victory at the polls in February 2023 has led us to feel that perhaps the Nigerian situation is not irredeemable, after all. Furthermore, the issues highlighted in your inauguration address as deserving of priority attention by your administration, namely, security, poverty, jobs, electricity, among others, have led us to believe that your administration will right the wrongs of the past and make Nigeria safe and habitable once again for all of us. It is noteworthy and reassuring that you have identified security as top priority of your administration.
“Therefore, we of APPA have resolved to repose confidence in you, Mr. President, to support and work with you to ensure that you make Nigeria a better place for us, for our children and future generations.
“We are further emboldened to give you our unalloyed support when we recall your glittering record of achievements as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. In addition, you have always done what many had thought was undoable, and you have always made a way where many would think there was no way. Talk of the can-do spirit of one man!”
The statement urged President Tinubu to revamp University education across the country by injecting more funds into the system in order to boost the morale of staff and students so as to enable them churn out innovative ideas that would propel technological development.
“At this Juncture, Mr. President, we feel compelled to call your attention to the parlous state of the education system in the country. A case in point is the extent to which our universities have been battered and made to fall into disrepute under the uncaring watch of previous administrations. The entire university workforce, especially the academics are now thoroughly demoralized.
“Considering the overriding importance of the university as the engine that drives innovations that fuel national development, the current depressing situation of our Universities must be redressed very urgently. Facilities in our Universities must be upgraded and expanded so that many more qualified candidates can be offered admission into these institutions. There should be massive injection of funds into the university system to boost the morale of staff and students so as to enable them churn out innovative ideas that would propel technological development.”
Addressing challenges in the education sector, according to Adeniran, would encourage Nigerian scholars in foreign countries to make their way back home and contribute their quota to national development.
“And, our youths will no longer be compelled to ‘japa’ in search of some illusionary greener pastures in alien climes,” he stressed.
