Prominent Yoruba leader and chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Ayo Adebanjo, has expressed the view that the Yoruba are responsible for their perceived marginalisation in the current political dispensation.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Independent in Lagos, Adebanjo alleged that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) sacrificed the interest of the South West region by voting for a Northern candidate when they had the opportunity of electing the Speaker from their zone.

According to him, the disunity among the Yoruba, especially on party differences, was responsible for the current marginalisation being suffered in the sharing of appointments at the national level.

He also berated those at the forefront of Youruba emancipation, saying they only talk to seek relevance and get appointments from the Federal Government.
He accused ACN leaders of allowing their personal interests to override the interest of the entire region.

“There is no doubt that we are marginalised but the Yoruba people have marginalised themselves. The politicians of my class are very few in the country because all those who are claiming to be champions of Yoruba today only talk in order to deceive the people.

“ACN will say they are marginalised, but when they had an opportunity to elect the Speaker of the House of Representatives which was zoned to the South West, they allowed party interest to override Yoruba interest.

“The Peoples Democratic Pary wanted to choose a Yoruba person but because of selfish interests in the ACN, that did not materialise.

“What is wrong in that Yoruba woman becoming Speaker even if she is a member of PDP?
“If not for the support the so-called Yoruba champion in the ACN gave to Tambuwal, he couldn’t have become the Speaker but they are counting on Tambuwal politically to come and join the ACN, therefore they sacrificed the interest of the Yoruba people.

“And these are the same people calling themselves leaders of Yoruba and crying that they have been marginalised.

“When they had the opportunity, what did they do with it? As far as I am concerned, they are only shouting Yoruba being marginalised for their own selfish interest,” Adebanjo added.


https://www.nairaland.com/modifypost?redirect=%2F1360813%2Facn-mortgaging-yoruba-interest-adebanjo%2316830501&post=16830501

Where is eko ile..?

During OBJ and Yaradua presidency, a section of the Yoruba elites occupied top positions but what significant difference did it make to the ordinary Yorubas? The cry of marginalization is pushed and politicized by the political elites who failed to gain ascendancy at home but whip up sentiments in order to win concessions at the center.

Pa Adebanjo and co should tell us their contribution and impact on the lives of the ordinary Yorubaman other than mouthing platitudes about Awoism? Was he not among the old guards who mortgaged the South-West to the plunderer,PDP?

@Topic,

The question is - what are the real Yorubas going to do about this? Let ACN/Tinubu get away with it or continue to be dragged by the nose?

take dat: During OBJ and Yaradua presidency, a section of the Yoruba elites occupied top positions but what significant difference did it make to the ordinary Yorubas? Their cry of marginalization is self-serving, pushed and politicized by the political elites who have failed to gain ascendancy at home in order to win concessions at the center.

Then, ACN should keep its mouth SHUT and stop crying about a phantom 'Yoruba Marginalisation' in d polity which they caused themselves cos of Selfish political reasons. Doing a thing, and turning around to accuse/insult another person of doing a similar thing in d future, is d height of HYPOCRISY, and what ACN have become known for. This one is just d latest in d series........ By d way, I hope d last parts of yr comment was not a Lame attempt at taking a jab at Gen Adebayo? Cos if it is, then it is a Fail. He is amongst d few Real Yoruba leadas left (regardless of whether one agrees with particular views of his or not), unlike d Political jobbers that abounds on both sides in that region

taharqa2: Then, ACN should keep its mouth SHUT and stop crying about a phantom 'Yoruba Marginalisation' in d polity which they caused themselves cos of Selfish political reasons. Doing a thing, and turning around to accuse/insult another person of doing a similar thing in d future, is d height of HYPOCRISY, and what ACN have become known for. This one is just d latest in d series........ By d way, I hope d last parts of yr comment was not a Lame attempt at taking a jab at Gen Adebayo? Cos if it is, then it is a Fail. He is amongst d few Real Yoruba leadas left (regardless of whether one agrees with particular views of his or not), unlike d Political jobbers that abounds on both sides in that region

Where and when did the ACN make the claim of marginalization? The cry of marginalization is pushed by members of the SW PDP who lost at the ballot box and some self-serving sectional groups.

Please try to read through before quoting a post. Here we are discussing Pa Adebanjo and not Gen Adebayo.

ACN cannot be crying of marginalisation when they bungle the opportunity to elect somebody from the South West as speaker of the House of Rep on the altar of politics.

But I want to agree with the support of ACN members to enthrone Tambuwal, a PDP man as the Speaker, that's freedom of choice and association. It is healthy for democracy.

PDP cannot just put up a candidate to represent a particular region and expect every members from the region irrespective of party affiliations to blindly support such candidate, that's imposition. it is unhealthy for democracy.

I want to agree that most of the politicians at the forefront of the so-called Yoruba emancipation are only trying to seek relevance and get appointments from the Federal Government. The average man on the street does not give a rat's a55 on who get what in the sharing of appointments at the national level.

Obasanjo was President for 8 years, Dimeji Banlole was a Speaker for 4 years, can anybody remind me of any legacy bequeathed the South West by the duo ?

Maxymilliano: ACN cannot be crying of marginalisation when they bungle the opportunity to elect somebody from the South West as speaker of the House of Rep on the altar of politics.

But I want to agree with the support of ACN members to enthrone Tambuwal, a PDP man as the Speaker, that's freedom of choice and association. It is healthy for democracy.

PDP cannot just put up a candidate to represent a particular region and expect every members from the region irrespective of party affiliations to blindly support such candidate, that's imposition. it is unhealthy for democracy.

I want to agree that most of the politicians at the forefront of the so-called Yoruba emancipation are only trying to seek relevance and get appointments from the Federal Government. The average man on the street does not give a rat's a55 on who get what in the sharing of appointments at the national level.

Obasanjo was President for 8 years, Dimeji Banlole was a Speaker for 4 years, can anybody remind me of any legacy bequeathed the South West by the duo ?

Thank you my brother. What did Obasanjo do for Yoruba in his 8 years.Etteh Olubunmi was there and Bankole, what was the gain to their local government let alone the state or entire Yoruba race. The road at Otta that traverses OBJ school and farm is very bad. Sometimes I am always being tempted to believe Tinubu is the wisest politician I have ever seen. My reason is his calculations are always right. In 2003, he knew OBJ will betray AD, he did not follow other govs in the South West and he escaped the hammer, he knew Afenifere will lose the heat and he formed Afenifere Renewal Group, he knew Fashola would perform and he staked his political career to push him and we can all see the outcome.

I do not care about who is there what we need is performance.

PointB: @Topic,

The question is - what are the real Yorubas going to do about this? Let ACN/Tinubu get away with it or continue to be dragged by the nose?

first,are you a yoruba?

second,when did the "real yorubas" ever cry of marginalisation?

third,we the "real yorubas" are not going to allow a PDP government dictate who will represent us in government.we will rather follow our minds than allow that.the reason there is a semblance of sanity in the house of rep is because you have a speaker with the mien of tambuwal.can you imagine what that house will be like with a jonathan/akala stooge in the person of Hon. "nigerians are not poor"mulikat?

the yorubas should be thanked for choosing to use their brains to elect the right speaker for this times

Delafruita:
first,are you a yoruba?

second,when did the "real yorubas" ever cry of marginalisation?

third,we the "real yorubas" are not going to allow a PDP government dictate who will represent us in government.we will rather follow our minds than allow that.the reason there is a semblance of sanity in the house of rep is because you have a speaker with the mien of tambuwal.can you imagine what that house will be like with a jonathan/akala stooge in the person of Hon. "nigerians are not poor"mulikat?

the yorubas should be thanked for choosing to use their brains to elect the right speaker for this times

You made a lot of sense. The choice of Tambuwwal has proven to be wise one in recent times.

This is an attempt to whip up sentiment to further personal political goals. The man has a choice to join PDP, UPN or even form his party to further Yoruba interest, since ACN is jeopardizing Yoruba's interest, Abi?

Adebanjo and others, if they wish to come out with these crass generalisations, should simply get in the ring and fight to achieve whatever change they wish to see. It is as simply as that. There is nothing I personally hate than cowardice from those who will not get involved and simply reserve the right to criticise everyone else out of spite and because their own apathy,lack of bravery and dearth of talent has left them as frustrated observers.

If Adebanjo wants us to believe ACN is "Mortgaging the Yoruba future and interest" what does he want any sensible adult to do with the truth which is that (1) South Westerners voted massively for the ACN and (2) that electoral faith has now been justified with undeniable performance from ACN administrators that has seen all State better off than in the recent past under the PDP? If we look at what matters, it is obvious all this shallow and ultimately senseless criticism is from disgruntled element whose own apathy and lack of leadership talent froze them out of issues, relevance and visibility. When we were in worse State than we are today with a Yoruba President(OBJ) and speaker (Bankole) what kind of petty elder is this man to now be speaking of a speakership when the average Yoruba is simply excited we are gaining leaders in position that matter who are effecting real changes everyone can see and feel?

Is that inane observation not proof Adebanjo, with all due respect, is rather obsolete and hence unable to discern what the SW needs with his talk of a Nigerian position, as if Yorubas own such ethnically, instead of focusing on how, far more than was the case under OBJ and the PDP, the SW has good leaders in positions that matters as an actual reality and as Tinubu helped to deliver while him and others were happy for OBJ to supplant crooks everywhere?

This is why Tinubu will always be better than these leaders and will always draw their envy and criiticism with his achievement. While Tinubu understands the importance of planning effectively, rising above sentiments and separating electoral endeavours from clannish attitude, most of these guys will always be inactive when it matters only to limit their contribution to ethnocentric sound-bites that lack sense and only appeal to bigots as we see on this thread.

If anyone feels the ACN is "mortgaging the Yoruba future and interest" then they should first acknowledge that the ACN legitimately won the right to do so in the first place if at all their accusation is even true. A solution provider, not empty barrel noise-makers and envious elements, would then convene a legitimately appropriate body (a political Party in this case) to challenge what they say the ACN is doing wrong and put it right. Go and test your popularity and win the right to make decisions for the SW voters instead of peddling ugly, ethnocentric garbage that belongs in 1962 primordial days with an ethno-jingoistic flavour and jostle to leadership.

Akanbi_edu:

You made a lot of sense. The choice of Tambuwwal has proven to be wise one in recent times.

This is an attempt to whip up sentiment to further personal political goals. The man has a choice to join PDP, UPN or even form his party to further Yoruba interest, since ACN is jeopardizing Yoruba's interest, Abi?

As simple as that. The man makes absolutely no sense waffling on about issues that have been discredited and overtaken by the reality of events on the ground. Without a single federal "heavyweight position", the jostle for which has been identified as one of the reasons for Nigeria's very expensive democracy by many analysts, has the SW not fared far better today than when we were "relevant"?

What convinces completely that any individual is a 'throwback' leader if not the sort of argument Adebanjo makes here that leaves no one in doubt that he has missed what is obvious and pertinent to the development of the Yorubas he claims to love?

Below, we see a sensible Nigerian focused on solutions and bing part of such, i.e Emeka Anyaoku, criticising what currently obtains while Adebanjo show he is 'old school' in the negative and non-progressive sense.

http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/en/component/k2/item/16686-6-federating-units-will-solve-nigeria%E2%80%99s-crisis-anyaoku.html

6 federating units will solve Nigeria’s crisis - Anyaoku
Written by Monday, 15 July 2013 01:54 font size decrease font size increase font size Print Email

Chief Emeka AnyaokuCHIEF Emeka Anyaoku, a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, said that the only way to put an end to the problems and crisis in Nigeria was to return to true federalism.
Anyaoku said this at a public lecture entitled: “God in my Life,” organised by Torchbearers Society of Arch Bishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos.
He stressed the need for the country to become a federation of six units, with each unit developing at its own space.
According to him, a federation of six geo-political zones will trigger competitive development, thereby solving the crisis in our country.
“Our country is facing serious crisis and our leaders and our elites are living in denial of this serious crisis.
“When we were a country of four regions, we were developing faster with all the sectors in each region doing so well.
“Think of the achievements of this country then, the Universal Primary Education in western region, the agricultural development in Northern Nigeria and the Industrial revolution in the Eastern region.
“I believe we should go back to a federation of six units, where the six geo-political zones will develop at its own pace; that will solve two of our major problems,’’ he said.
Anyaoku said that the first problem was that the current structure of 36 states, with 36 state assemblies, 36 civil services, 36 judiciaries and all other components was expensive to run.
“With this kind of structure, it means that we continue to spend about 70 per cent or more of our resources on just administration. We cannot develop on that pace.
“And worst still, I believe that the present structure of an all powerful centre, which exists on the basis of anta to the states, creates a destablising competition for the control of that centre.
“And its competition that fuels the primordial sentiments of tribes and religion because each tribe and each religion wants to control the all powerful centre,’’ he added.
Anyaoku, however, called for the transformation of the Nigeria polity, which he said, was been driven by quest for power and money.
“We should transform the nature of our politics because our politics today breeds the culture of corruption which is the biggest evil that is facing our country.
“We must return to politics that rediscovers the values of hard work and that money is not everything,” he said.