BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
The Yoruba elders, under the aegis of Yoruba Council of Elders, said in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, that it was working behind the scene to ensure that the Yoruba Nation Agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a Sunday Igboho, is released from the custody in Benin Republic.
YCE also stated that the younger generation in Nigeria had become frustrated because the state of the country doesn’t give them any hope.
Secretary-General of YCE, Dr. Kunle Olajide, said, “What the present generation can tolerate and be hopeful for, the younger generation cannot afford to wait for because they think the country is wasting them.”
He said that the YCE were not opposed to the reaction of the younger generation, but warned them to be moderate. “We don’t want to sacrifice them because the power of government is enormous and we can see what is happening now.
“Whatever we can do we are doing behind the scenes to ensure the freedom of Sunday Igboho in Benin Republic.”
The YCE communique, read by Pa Niyi Ajibulu, Secretary of the Ekiti State chapter of YCE, stated, “For surviving the scourge, the ailment and the inclement climate and COVID-19 pandemic, the Council views, with great concern, the unending state of insecurity that assumed unimaginable dimension in recent times.
“Unfortunately, it appears to have defiled all solutions. The Council feels very seriously that the trend, whereby the citizens would not be able to go about their normal businesses, is totally unacceptable and should not continue.
“The menace, threat of Fulani herdsmen, bandit and kidnappers should be contained with a view to sanitizing the society. As far as the Yoruba Council of Elders is concerned, we believe that Nigeria should be made workable and conducive for all regardless of religion or ethnicity.
“That there are abundant natural endowments that can be harnessed by visionary leadership to effect a sanitized society. To the glory of God and our nation, we Yorubas are known not to be cowards, we are renowned for valour and courage. A situation where double standards, tribalism and social Injustice remain the order of the day is not in any way acceptable.
“Under no circumstances should any Yoruba son, daughter, group or organisation be victimised, hounded and persecuted. The Yoruba Council of Elders is calling on all Yoruba sons and daughters, groups and organisations to close ranks and be united in the face of the present circumstances in Nigeria.
“The YCE again restate that the 1999 Constitution is a quasi-dictatorial document imposed on Nigerians and that it is responsible for most of the current challenges.
“The Council is, again, calling on the Federal Government to do the needful at this critical stage of our national life by accommodating true federalism and a new Constitution by the Nigerian people.”
The conference was attended by the President-General of YCE, Justice Ademola Bakare; Ambassador Siyanbola, Elder Ayo Ojebode, Assistant Secretary-General of YCE; Robert Ajibiye, Egunjobi, Dapo Oyewola, among others.
