Ahead of the 2023 elections, some youths in the southwest have called on political and traditional leaders in the region to eshew bitterness and unite to ensure the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria.
The youths under the auspices of a group known as Odo Afenifere Yoruba stated this while declaring support for the APC Presidential Candidate in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
Addressing newsmen, leader of the youths, also known as the ‘Olori Odo Afenifere Yoruba,’ Comrade Lekan Owolabi described as disturbing, the level of disunity and bitterness being witnessed among some Yoruba leaders ahead of the 2023 elections.
Owolabi pointed out that some Yoruba leaders have allowed personal interest to bring Yoruba race backward compared to other regions.
He said, “This movement feels there is an urgent need to wake up all the political and traditional leaders in the Yorubaland to the reality of the negative effects of disunity among them on members of the younger generation.We find the disunity and lack of integration among the Yoruba people disturbing.
“Yoruba people used to be at the forefront of development in Nigeria. But it is sad that some of our leaders have now brought our race backward.
“Politics and ego have torn them apart, leading to a situation where nobody is now providing purposeful and productive leadership to those of us who belong to the younger generation.
“It was not like this in the days of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo whose leadership remains a reference point in the history of the Yoruba race and, of course, Nigeria. We need a purposeful leadership. But since the death of Papa Obafemi Awolowo, the Yoruba people, especially the youths, have been living like a herd of sheep without a shepherd. Nobody is providing leadership for us anymore. We wonder why it takes so long to fill the vacuum that the late Yoruba leader left behind.
“This is yet another time since the death of Papa Awolowo that all the Yoruba leaders and, of course, all our people must come together to positively rewrite the history of our race. Providence has raised another leader for our race. But it is unfortunate that some of our people, out of ego, envy and hatred, feel reluctant to accept the verdict of fate.
“It is our view that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been prepared by providence for the leadership of the Yoruba race. Asiwaju Tinubu is qualified not only to fill the leadership vacuum in the Yorubaland but also in Nigeria at Large. Our opinion is based on his notable antecedents, political sagacity, administrative acumen, patriotism, philanthropy and human capital building capacity.
“Asiwaju Tinubu is noted for preparing a better future for the younger generation of the Yoruba, his uncommon contributions to democracy and his talent for discovering the best among the younger generation of our people and preparing them for leadership. It is important to note here that some of the people he discovered are now playing important leadership roles in the country and other places in the world.
“It is our belief that this is the time all Yoruba people must come together and extinguish the fire of disunity, envy and hatred among ourselves.The development of Yoruba must be paramount to all sons and daughters of Oodua in spite of their political affiliations.
“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a blessing to us. The Yoruba race is very proud to have been blessed with such an amazing son who has grown to become a leader of leaders. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is different things to different people. To some, he is either a benefactor, a father, a political leader or a mentor. But to us, he is a source of motivation and inspiration.
“Asiwaju always inspires us to think beyond ourselves, to think of people around the world as part of a common humanity. We are blessed by his leadership. We love him for what he has accomplished in life and what he still plans to achieve for humanity.
“ The odo Afenifere Yoruba will continue to support those who desire the unity and welfare of our people. We hereby commend all the leaders who stand for the unity of our people.
“It is our candid opinion that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is capable of holding the mantle of leadership as the next President of the federal republic of Nigeria. We urge our people to unite behind his aspiration to lead the country. Asiwaju has the required capacity and intellect to take our country out of the woods.” He said.
