A Pan-Yoruba group in the Diaspora,Yoruba One Voice (YOV) has warned the leader/Coordinator of the Yoruba Appraisal Forum (YAF), Adeshina Animashaun, to eschew actions that may set the southwest region on fire.
Animashaun had last week led a delegation, comprising members of his group to the palaces of six obas in the south-west geo political zone. The monarchs visited include the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Soun Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi, Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin, Oluwo of Iwo land, Oba Rasheed Akanbi, Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adetila, Olu of Moloko Asipa, Oba Nureni Adesina and the Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo.
The group said a statement credited to the six prominent Yoruba monarchs by Animashaun was done in bad faith.
Reacting to the visit, YOV in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Omoladun Orolugbagbe, expressed sadness over the statement credited to the monarchs, and derscribing it as the antics of a paid agent of southwest politicians who are on a mission to truncate the ideals of Yoruba race.
Orolugbagbe said that Animashaun is well known to be an anti-Yoruba, adding that his visit to the Obas was premature and ill-timed, particularly at a time when the southwest had been ravaged by the Fulani herdsmen.
The YOV publicity secretary maintained that the six Yoruba monarchs mentioned in the statement were quoted wrongly, insisting that the reason for the visit was too political and was capable of destroying the unity in the south west.
She described Animashaun’s recent move as a subtle attempt to fulfill the dream of his pay-masters, who are majorly politicians from the southwest,declaring that the visit was like a trap too costly for the Yoruba race to fall into.
YOV image maker also said Yoruba monarchs are very diplomatic in nature and would never stoop so low to alter the rave of events that is blowing in the country.
“How can you grossly misquote our revered monarchs like Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Oyewunmi in such a cruel manner, and stylishly setting them against their people in Yoruba land,
“That statement was grossly misleading because the Obas are mostly respected in Yorubaland. They have unique history attached to their different kingdoms and they have their ears to the grounds, and they know what the Yoruba people both home and abroad want,
“So, none of the Obas mentioned in the statement would drift from an idea and clamour that is geared towards liberating the people of the Yoruba race from the bondage of the Fulani captivity”
“If Adeshina Animashaun is so sure of the statement credited to these six southwest monarchs, let him produce the tape or videos with which the statement was made.
“Then and only then can we believe his version of the story. But I know he is acting a script, because from his attitudes and antecedents, we know he is always a sellout, especially, for the politicians.”
Explaining the reasons for the agitation for self determination, Orolugbagbe said the call for self-determination was in response to the various insecurity challenges ravaging the southwest region.
“Adeshina Animashaun of the Yoruba Appraisal Forum(YAF) is like the Kanu of the Abacha era and nobody should take him serious. The killings across the country on daily basis have justified our call for self determination. Even many of the governors in the North have raised their voices over the killings in the North,no where is spared.
“The Middle Belters are telling their people to rise in self defence and the entire country is bleeding”
For instance, Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa,recently attested to this pogrom, Sultan also said this recently, governors like Samuel Ortom,Ganduje of Kano and others are raising their voices against these huge security challenges”
“Therefore, YOV and other Yorubas in the diaspora will continue to seek international support for a peaceful strategy to drive home our self determination agenda, and for those that seek regionalism based on the federating units, they should continue and never relent in their battle.It is like the two sides of a coin. The battle is neither for the coward nor for the brave, but for those that are very determined and consistent in their struggle for a Yoruba nation that the Yoruba can be proud of,” She said.
