Yorubas now live with treachery, lies for gratifications – Iyantan




Diran Iyantan, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs in Ondo State, is President of the Yoruba Ronu Group, a socio-cultural body, which intends to reclaim the lost ideals of the Yoruba race. In this interview with our Correspondent, NKASIOBI OLUIKPE, he reveals how the Yoruba ethnic group has been highly marginalised in terms of benefits of governance at the federal level, the rampant deviation from the people’s cultural norm, and other issues of national interests. Excerpts:

Iyantan
Iyantan
What exactly is the founding ideology behind the Yoruba Ronu Group?

The Yoruba Ronu Group is basically out for the revival, renaissance and emancipation of the Yoruba race. This is because there have been so much deviations from the cultural norm and ideals of the Yoruba race, which has been inimical to the race. So, we had to sit down and appraise and look for an appropriate way out. This is what gave birth to the idea of this group, intended to sustain the founding ideals of the highly civilised and respected race, considered to be the pace setters in the country. The aim is also to advise the younger generation to work in tandem with the old philosophy of the virtues and civilisation of the forefathers of the race. But, most importantly, to highlight the marginilisation of the race and fight vehemently against it. This particular aspect of our struggle supersedes the rest, because, we don’t want to be carried away by the relegation and other maltreatments that are being meted to us by our brothers that are supposed to be our keepers.

You did say there is deviation from the original norm of the Yoruba race, what exactly do you mean?

The Yoruba were known to be highly virtuous and truthful. When then Yoruba man believes in a course, he stays glued to it. This is regardless of whatever form of inducement; be it money or whatever. He stands closely and passionately to his conscience. Although in the past, we had people who do not conform to the norm, the difference lies in the way they were treated. Few of the people who did so were appropriately sanctioned. In history, you find that people who did things contrary to the race were stigmatised. For example, they said Akintola did something wrong to the collective interest of the Yoruba race. The Yoruba disowned him and labeled him a traitor. It will take eternity to remove that toga. When we were growing up, if there is any crop that was destroying crops in the farm, they would call it Akintola. They gave him a lot of uncomplimentary appellation. But now there are some Yoruba that are living with treachery, lies and all sorts because of the gratifications that come with it. So, we have to draw the attention of these people to the original ideals of the race that all these things that they are doing are a complete deviation from the ideals of the Yoruba race. In recent times, we have seen examples of double standards displayed by certain individuals of Yoruba extraction.

You still talked about Yoruba being marginalised. Wouldn’t that be strange to an average Nigerians because people think they have been the luckiest race in Nigeria?

In the past six years, Yoruba have not only been marginalised, they have been brutalised. Considering the political antecedents of these people in government, I mean that a Yoruba man in the person of former President Olusegun Obasanjo played a key role in the emergence of the incumbent president, the best we could expect from such arrangement would be for the race to be adequately protected. But, when you look at the Nigeria of today, out of the first 40 positions, there is no Yoruba man there. By our own estimation, we have only two Yoruba men in the first 50 powerful positions in Nigeria. We don’t feel that this is good enough. In the legislature, same goes; the highest position we have is a domestic position that is the Chief of Staff to the President.

If you go on with this campaign, won’t you be seen as pursuing an ethnic agenda and that is exactly what Nigeria is trying to run away from?

No, we are only highlighting the marginalisation of our people. The Bible says, “Love your neighbour as yourself”, not “Love your neighbour more than yourself”, then you love your neighbour.

When Aminu Kano was accused of tribalism, he said tribalism can be a vehicle of development if properly harnessed. He said if he develops Kano, Obafemi Awolowo develops his Yoruba race and Nnamdi Azikiwe develops his own area, then, the whole place will be developed. So, there can be good in evil at times. But in this case, we are protecting our own interest because if you don’t do it, nobody will do it for you.

Look at what is happening in the Niger Delta today, President Goodluck Jonathan is turning miscreants, people who are supposed to be confined to a reformatory centre, to billionaires because he has access to power. He is even turning things upside down. All these things don’t work for the development of the nation.

What should be the right formula on how Nigeria should be led in terms of personnel structure, based on your argument on marginalisation?

I want us to build powerful institutions. When you build enduring institutions, every other thing will begin to fall in line. To complement this, we want a very strong and incorruptible leadership. If an incorruptible leadership is put in place, definitely, all these marginalisation will be corrected. The solution is putting the right person at the helm of affairs, so that discipline, patriotism and every other thing will emanate from the leadership and go down to the followership. That way, our fear will be assuaged.

If you are to advise, in spite of the fact that Northerners have ruled the country for most part of since independence, what positions do you think deserve to be rightly manned by the Yoruba?

There cannot be specific positions for a race because this is a continuous thing. At a particular time, a Yoruba man was the president, but we thank God that when he was president, he mobilised the other races to be partakers.

Source: dailyIndependent

too long mehn.

no be you dey say i no know book?

i even cut am into thiree

I wan write WAEC?

Ok.
just enjoy the headline.
It is not me that write it like that.
It is trained journalist from correct Nigeria newspaper.

Make una no band me oo.
I have plenti news to release this matchbuharibacktoDaura!

They would soon be here to insult the Yorubas. Seems that is their only source of Joy

Beamborla:
They would soon be here to insult the Yorubas. Seems that is their only source of Joy

thank you my sister.
some people is just wicked all the time.

Proudly Yoruba . GEJ till 2019!!!

this is what tinubu, osinbade, bakare have brought Yoruba to.
A man who brings ant infested firewood will be accused of betrayal

The OP and the person making that statement are both mad.

Yo-robber land is cursed, simple and short!

Caseless:
The OP and the person making that statement are both mad.

Yo-robber man, you're no longer from the Niger Delta?? Lool •

Nawa oooo

mhizenugu:
Yo-robber man, you're no longer from the Niger Delta?? Lool •

point to any thread where i have openly stated my ethnic background.

according to the topic... without reading the plenty thing, this one nah true story ooh!

you see how obasanjo is behaving.
ridiculing Nigeria Army and scaring away foreign investor.
that is what you get when you take a village champion to township.
He will start thinking he is actor.

tit:
you see how obasanjo is behaving.
ridiculing Nigeria Army and scaring away foreign investor.
that is what you get when you take a village champion to township.
He will start thinking he is actor.

Exactly! Just like GEJ for example.

This man do chop bribe confirmed bastard.