2019: Akande, Others Meet on Yoruba Political Agenda

• Akande, Others Meet on Yoruba Political Agenda

Major political leaders in the South-West on Saturday met at the launch of a forum called, ‘Yoruba Patriots Movement’, during which decisions were made on how Yoruba will be a major political stakeholder ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The event, which had a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, as the chairman, had in attendance representatives of Oyo and Ondo state governors.

Others at the YPM launch were Doyin Okupe, Saka Balogun, Adegboye Onigbinde, Busari Adebisi, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Frederick Faseun and Yemi Farounbi.

Akande said irrespective of present party affiliations and political positions, all Yoruba politicians must speak with one voice and present a common political agenda ahead of the general elections.

A three-point communiqué issued after the event called for a Yoruba summit to protect the interest of the region at the national level.

It also called for a ‘Yoruba Economic Agenda’ to chart a way to liberate the region from dependence on federal allocations.

In addition, it decided that all Yoruba socio-political groups must register under the YPM, which will be an umbrella body to protect Yoruba interests.

Akande said, “As a Yoruba elder, I must strive to attend every meeting that concerns Yoruba people and interest. Without a voice, you cannot fight for your common rights. It is unfortunate that education standard has dropped.

I implore all governors in the South-West to make a policy that would make it mandatory for pupils of primary schools in Yorubaland to be taught in Yoruba language. It was easy for our past leaders to reach out to people at the grass roots because they spoke their languages to them.”

According to the National Coordinator of the group, Oladosu Oladapo, Yoruba elders must devote more time to action than to rhetoric.

Secretary to Oyo State Government, Olalekan Ali, who represented Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, noted that a similar agenda was drawn last week when Ajimobi called a meeting of all South-West governors and leaders, which had the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in attendance.