'Yoruba, unlike Igbo, Hausa, are too sophisticated to have one socio-political group'



Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Dr. Kunle Olajide, in this interview, speaks on the implications of the purported election of Prof. Banji Akintoye as the leader of the Yoruba.




The election of Professor Banji Akintoye as the leader of the Yoruba is generating controversy across the South-West. What do you think is responsible?


The Yoruba race is about a hundred and fifty million people, scattered across the globe and they are very hospitable, very enterprising, very liberal and very accommodating. They don’t want to be cheated and don’t believe in cheating others. When you talk about the leadership of such people, a lot of factors must be taken into consideration.
Are you talking about leadership in the political arena, religious arena, business arena, or in academia? We just have to be clear. If we are talking about overall leadership, one has to be extremely careful, because we are in a constitutional democracy now, where there is freedom of choice, freedom of association and freedom of speech.
In other words, only political leaders are elected through properly conducted elections. And Nigerians above the age of 18 who have the right to vote can vote. But if we are talking about Yoruba leadership, people can sit down to choose their leader and you can’t fault their choice because there is freedom of choice under the constitution.


Would the Yoruba accept the leadership?


Whether the leadership would be accepted by the majority of the Yoruba is another question. We heard about an election conducted by some groups from the Yoruba race recently and for such groups, they have the right to choose a leader. Their choice is a very well respected Yoruba leader. We respect him, and we adore him. He is quite competent and has the necessary credentials to be the leader. But you begin to worry about the process and the motive of those who gathered. Even the leader that was chosen was not at that meeting where he was chosen. Again, one begins to wonder whether they have his consent to choose him. Does he support it? Is he part of it? Therefore the process that should produce Yoruba leadership must as much as possible be all-encompassing. I am talking about carrying our foremost traditional rulers along. Their consent must be sought. The Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo, Owa of Ijesha land, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Olowo of Owo, Olukare of Ikare, Awujale of Ijebuland, Eleko of Lagos and host of others. The task is for the Yoruba and our leaders must have known over the years those, who have paid their dues in the service of the Yoruba nation. When you hear that a few young men sat down somewhere and claimed to have chosen a leader for the Yoruba race, one begins to wonder how much they know about Yoruba race. We are gifted as I said earlier. Yoruba nation is endowed, even in the religious arena, our people are prominent. A few of us don’t understand the situation because we have not even heard a word from the elected leader, who happened to be one of my leaders. He is somebody I know and have respect for. He hasn’t said a word whether he is accepting the responsibility or not. I think the ele



Would you say that the action of these people is a deliberate attempt to cause a crisis in the Yoruba nation?


It is difficult for me to pass that kind of judgement because we are yet to know those behind it and in any case, it is over a week now and the supposed leader is yet to talk to us on whether he is accepting the position or declining. He has not even said that he is commencing a process of regularising the irregularities. I don’t know the agenda behind it.


Some people have come out to say that action is connected to the 2023 presidential ambition of some leaders. Do you share that opinion?


It is not unlikely but I’m not a mind reader. I cannot read the mind of those behind it. And talking about 2023, I think the prayers of every reasonable human being now should be to even survive this 2019 because we are yet to see the end of 2019. As I am talking to you there would be some of us who may not be fortunate to see 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. And people are talking about 2023.
It was said that two names were presented at the election. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Professor Banji Akintoye were listed and Akintoye was said to have emerged. Don’t you think the election was an attempt to instigate a rift between the two leaders?
I am not too sure whether the two people mentioned were aware of the meeting. I think it is immoral for anybody to present names of people without seeking their consent whether they want to contest for the office or not in the first place. That is immoral. The Yoruba have developed far beyond that. You can’t just pick two names and say one scored two million, the other scored five million. They didn’t seek their consent. For me, it will be wrong to begin judging the situation from what we read in the papers. Let the actors speak. None of them has spoken. Let us wait for them to speak.



People are beginning to think this would cause crisis among other leaders of the Yorubaland?


I think the Yoruba are much sophisticated and developed. You can see beyond such puerile trick. We are very much developed and much sophisticated. Many challenges are facing us now. We have a lot to do than to be talking about leaders who are not recognised by the constitution.
In the Yoruba race now we have the Afenifere led by Pa Fasoranti and another lead by Pa Fasanmi. There is also the Afenifere Renewal Group and the Yoruba Council of Elders.
It is a sign of our sophistication. We are in a free world. For instance, when a group forms a socio-cultural Yoruba group, nobody would fight the group. But when they want to choose a leader they must make wide consultation in a sophisticated nation like the Yoruba nation. Traditional rulers are very important if not the most important. You must talk with them and seek their consent because they are the representative of gods on earth. The academia and other Yoruba groups should also be carried along in choosing who leads the Yoruba.



Don’t you think it is high time the Yoruba formed a group like the Area Consultative Forum?


No! Don’t make such mistake by calling Arewa consultative Forum a strong umbrella group. We can’t have such a thing in the Yoruba nation.


What about Ndigbo?


Ndigbo don’t have a well-structured organisation. At the time we had our first medical doctor there was none in these two parts of the country you are talking about. When Bishop Ajayi Crowther came to Nigeria none of these two parts of the world had anything to do with education. The Yoruba nation is different. We can interact, have a common agenda and work together for the good of Yoruba nation but we are too sophisticated to be restricted to a single socio-cultural organisation. You must work to earn your leadership position in Yoruba land. It is not just given to anyone who has served the race creditably.


Are you not worried about the possible implications of this issue?


I am not worried because Professor Banji Akintoye, a knowledgeable Professor of History, is a respected Yoruba leader. He is a politician of note. He was a senator in the Second Republic He is the Chairman and Founder of Oodua Foundation worldwide. He is one of my foremost leaders.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/09/yoruba-unlike-igbo-hausa-are-too-sophisticated-to-have-one-socio-political-group/

Ctorch:
'[s]Yoruba, unlike Igbo, Hausa, are too sophisticated to have one socio-political group'



Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Dr. Kunle Olajide, in this interview, speaks on the implications of the purported election of Prof. Banji Akintoye as the leader of the Yoruba.




The election of Professor Banji Akintoye as the leader of the Yoruba is generating controversy across the South-West. What do you think is responsible?


The Yoruba race is about a hundred and fifty million people, scattered across the globe and they are very hospitable, very enterprising, very liberal and very accommodating. They don’t want to be cheated and don’t believe in cheating others. When you talk about the leadership of such people, a lot of factors must be taken into consideration.
Are you talking about leadership in the political arena, religious arena, business arena, or in academia? We just have to be clear. If we are talking about overall leadership, one has to be extremely careful, because we are in a constitutional democracy now, where there is freedom of choice, freedom of association and freedom of speech.
In other words, only political leaders are elected through properly conducted elections. And Nigerians above the age of 18 who have the right to vote can vote. But if we are talking about Yoruba leadership, people can sit down to choose their leader and you can’t fault their choice because there is freedom of choice under the constitution.


Would the Yoruba accept the leadership?


Whether the leadership would be accepted by the majority of the Yoruba is another question. We heard about an election conducted by some groups from the Yoruba race recently and for such groups, they have the right to choose a leader. Their choice is a very well respected Yoruba leader. We respect him, and we adore him. He is quite competent and has the necessary credentials to be the leader. But you begin to worry about the process and the motive of those who gathered. Even the leader that was chosen was not at that meeting where he was chosen. Again, one begins to wonder whether they have his consent to choose him. Does he support it? Is he part of it? Therefore the process that should produce Yoruba leadership must as much as possible be all-encompassing. I am talking about carrying our foremost traditional rulers along. Their consent must be sought. The Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo, Owa of Ijesha land, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Olowo of Owo, Olukare of Ikare, Awujale of Ijebuland, Eleko of Lagos and host of others. The task is for the Yoruba and our leaders must have known over the years those, who have paid their dues in the service of the Yoruba nation. When you hear that a few young men sat down somewhere and claimed to have chosen a leader for the Yoruba race, one begins to wonder how much they know about Yoruba race. We are gifted as I said earlier. Yoruba nation is endowed, even in the religious arena, our people are prominent. A few of us don’t understand the situation because we have not even heard a word from the elected leader, who happened to be one of my leaders. He is somebody I know and have respect for. He hasn’t said a word whether he is accepting the responsibility or not. I think the ele



Would you say that the action of these people is a deliberate attempt to cause a crisis in the Yoruba nation?


It is difficult for me to pass that kind of judgement because we are yet to know those behind it and in any case, it is over a week now and the supposed leader is yet to talk to us on whether he is accepting the position or declining. He has not even said that he is commencing a process of regularising the irregularities. I don’t know the agenda behind it.


Some people have come out to say that action is connected to the 2023 presidential ambition of some leaders. Do you share that opinion?


It is not unlikely but I’m not a mind reader. I cannot read the mind of those behind it. And talking about 2023, I think the prayers of every reasonable human being now should be to even survive this 2019 because we are yet to see the end of 2019. As I am talking to you there would be some of us who may not be fortunate to see 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. And people are talking about 2023.
It was said that two names were presented at the election. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Professor Banji Akintoye were listed and Akintoye was said to have emerged. Don’t you think the election was an attempt to instigate a rift between the two leaders?
I am not too sure whether the two people mentioned were aware of the meeting. I think it is immoral for anybody to present names of people without seeking their consent whether they want to contest for the office or not in the first place. That is immoral. The Yoruba have developed far beyond that. You can’t just pick two names and say one scored two million, the other scored five million. They didn’t seek their consent. For me, it will be wrong to begin judging the situation from what we read in the papers. Let the actors speak. None of them has spoken. Let us wait for them to speak.



People are beginning to think this would cause crisis among other leaders of the Yorubaland?


I think the Yoruba are much sophisticated and developed. You can see beyond such puerile trick. We are very much developed and much sophisticated. Many challenges are facing us now. We have a lot to do than to be talking about leaders who are not recognised by the constitution.
In the Yoruba race now we have the Afenifere led by Pa Fasoranti and another lead by Pa Fasanmi. There is also the Afenifere Renewal Group and the Yoruba Council of Elders.
It is a sign of our sophistication. We are in a free world. For instance, when a group forms a socio-cultural Yoruba group, nobody would fight the group. But when they want to choose a leader they must make wide consultation in a sophisticated nation like the Yoruba nation. Traditional rulers are very important if not the most important. You must talk with them and seek their consent because they are the representative of gods on earth. The academia and other Yoruba groups should also be carried along in choosing who leads the Yoruba.



Don’t you think it is high time the Yoruba formed a group like the Area Consultative Forum?


No! Don’t make such mistake by calling Arewa consultative Forum a strong umbrella group. We can’t have such a thing in the Yoruba nation.


What about Ndigbo?


Ndigbo don’t have a well-structured organisation. At the time we had our first medical doctor there was none in these two parts of the country you are talking about. When Bishop Ajayi Crowther came to Nigeria none of these two parts of the world had anything to do with education. The Yoruba nation is different. We can interact, have a common agenda and work together for the good of Yoruba nation but we are too sophisticated to be restricted to a single socio-cultural organisation. You must work to earn your leadership position in Yoruba land. It is not just given to anyone who has served the race creditably.


Are you not worried about the possible implications of this issue?


I am not worried because Professor Banji Akintoye, a knowledgeable Professor of History, is a respected Yoruba leader. He is a politician of note. He was a senator in the Second Republic He is the Chairman and Founder of Oodua Foundation worldwide. He is one of my foremost leaders.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/09/yoruba-unlike-igbo-hausa-are-too-sophisticated-to-have-one-socio-political-group/
[/s]

Afonjas, anything they do, they must compare it to Igbos. As if Igbos even think about them!

Not like I hate and always criticize our people but I have to ask, why do we always have those Ibos in mind when conducting our own affairs?

navyseal2220:


Afonjas, anything they do, they must compare it to Igbos. As if Igbos even think about them!

That is what deep inferiority complex does to a man.

Ooni:
Not like I hate and always criticize our people but I have to ask, why do we always have those Ibos in mind when conducting our own affairs?

You and those who responded above have comprehension issues. Do you not note where the interviewer asked him "what about Ndigbo?" to note the mans was responding to a direct question and not talking about Igbos unsolicited? You lot flatter yourselves thinking Yorubas care about you more than you do about them.

The evidence and truth of the matter is here on NL daily with how most Yorubas cannot even name one Igbo governor yet you Igbos can name all SW Governors, their children and even grand-children. Is this not how Abia man wakes up daily to shout Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu etc whereas most Yorubas don't even know or care who governs Abia.

candidtalk:


You and those who responded above have comprehension issues. Do you not note where the interviewer asked him "what about Ndigbo?" to note the mans was responding to a direct question and not talking about Igbos unsolicited? You lot flatter yourselves thinking Yorubas care about you more than you do about them.

The evidence and truth of the matter is here on NL daily with how most Yorubas cannot even name one Igbo governor yet you Igbos can name all SW Governors, their children and even grand-children. Is this not how Abia man wakes up daily to shout Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu etc whereas most Yorubas don't even know or care who governs Abia.

This one is just talking out of sense

wingmanII:


That is what deep inferiority complex does to a man.

Who is suffering inferiority complex? Those who wake up daily to shout Tinubu when the man has never governed their State or had direct influence over their lives or those who do not know nor care about Igbo politics, political leaders or States? When ever have you seen Yorubas passionately discussing Igbo leaders the way you lot obsessively salivate over Tinubu, Aregbe, Ambode, Sanwo-Olu and other Yoruba leaders and SW governance affair here daily?

Jasparrow1:
This one is just talking out of sense

Of course. The legendary Igbo hypocrisy on display as usual. We will see how many topics or comment will be contributed in relation to Tinubu and SW leaders by Igbo today on NL and how many on SE leaders by Yorubas. Self-deceit and living in denial are Igbo afflictions.

candidtalk:


You and those who responded above have comprehension issues. Do you not note where the interviewer asked him "what about Ndigbo?" to note the mans was responding to a direct question and not talking about Igbos unsolicited? You lot flatter yourselves thinking Yorubas care about you more than you do about them.

The evidence and truth of the matter is here on NL daily with how most Yorubas cannot even name one Igbo governor yet you Igbos can name all SW Governors, their children and even grand-children. Is this not how Abia man wakes up daily to shout Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu etc whereas most Yorubas don't even know or care who governs Abia.

Off trajectory.


Igbo Igbo Igbo....una no dey tire.... Jesuuuuuuu

yorubas..

MelesZenawi:



Off trajectory.


Igbo Igbo Igbo....una no dey tire.... Jesuuuuuuu

To show Yorubas don't lie and to demonstrate how we blow you Igbos out of the water with facts, whereas you lot rely on lies and conjecture, check the thread below. A Yoruba MC Oluomo is thanking Yoruba leaders who have influenced him. Check who the first and negative respondents are to the topic and their previous post to note they are Igbos. FamousMonk, Bridget95, Simplelex, FarahAideed etc. Why so much bile from Igbos alone over an entirely Yoruba issue that should ordinarily not concern a single Igbo? Do you know how crazy this makes you Igbos appear? 100% Yoruba topic with 90% negative contribution from Igbos !!!!!


Forum members should ask what should concern Igbos more than all other ethnic group with a Yoruba thanking other Yorubas. Is this normal behaviour? From a people who claim Yorubas obsess about them? Can any Yoruba imagine the opposite i.e an Igbo praising his Igbo mentors only for it to be Yorubas flooding the thread with negative comments? Can I ask you hypocritical Igbos commenting here what concerns your people with MC Oluomo ? Is he NURTW Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia or Ebonyi faction? Pathetic.

https://www.nairaland.com/5404894/tinubu-know-mc-oluomo

candidtalk:


To show Yorubas don't lie and to demonstrate how we blow you Igbos out of the water with facts, whereas you lot rely on lies and conjecture, check the thread below. A Yoruba MC Oluomo is thanking Yoruba leaders who have influenced him. Check who the first and negative respondents are to the topic and their previous post to note they are Igbos. FamousMonk, Bridget95 etc. Forum members should ask what should concern Igbos more than all other ethnic group with a Yoruba praising other Yorubas. IS this normal behaviour? From a people who claim Yorubas obsess about them? Can any Yoruba imagine the opposite i.e an Igbo praising his Igbo mentors only for it to be flooding the thread with negative comments? Can I ask you hypocritical Igbos commenting here what concerns your people with MC Oluomo ? Is he NURTW Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia or Ebonyi faction? Pathetic.

https://www.nairaland.com/5404894/tinubu-know-mc-oluomo

Out of triangle.


You drifting seriously away from the topic and it raises concern, if there is a problem somewhere...

MelesZenawi:




Out of triangle.


You drifting seriously away from the topic and it raises concern, if there is a problem somewhere...

Hypocrite. First few comments on this thread, as usual was from your folks who failed to address the topic to instead claim Yorubas are focused on Igbos. When I address that lie you now want to 'focus' on the topic. Shior. Igbos always embarrassing themselves with the ugly toga of hypocrisy they wear everywhere. I have made my point. Go to the MC Oluomo thread and advise your Igbo brethren, with virtually all other Nigerians not commenting, to stick to the topic raised instead of passing insults alone.

Can't they talk without mentioning others...


Very pathetic

candidtalk:


Of course. The legendary Igbo hypocrisy on display as usual. We will see how many topics or comment will be contributed in relation to Tinubu and SW leaders by Igbo today on NL and how many on SE leaders by Yorubas. Self-deceit and living in denial are Igbo afflictions.

Afonjas and stupidity are like 5&6

KidsNEXTdoor:
Can't they talk without mentioning others...


Very pathetic

Go to the thread below and give your Igbos folks same advice since it appears they are the only ethnic group on NL fixated on commenting on what is essentially a Yoruba only topic.

https://www.nairaland.com/5404894/tinubu-know-mc-oluomo

Jasparrow1:
Afonjas and stupidity are like 5&6

Mumu. Look at the comment you responded to and how its prediction, regarding Igbo obsession with everything Yoruba, has been proven correct in the thread below:

https://www.nairaland.com/5404894/tinubu-know-mc-oluomo

Ooni:
Not like I hate and always criticize our people but I have to ask, why do we always have those Ibos in mind when conducting our own affairs?

T9ksy and imperialyoruba will know for sure.


Cc lzaa gmbuharii

I am not igbo but consider this statement reckless and coming from a being without any talent of reasoning.

who empowered this unsecured fellow ?

Akintoye's Appointment should be certified by Odumefun.

navyseal2220:


Afonjas, anything they do, they must compare it to Igbos. As if Igbos even think about them!

.


The Igbos don't have Leader. Who is he? Is he Nnamdi Kanu?

But at the same time, Igbos are not united when they have many leaders.
Abi?

Changing the narrative to suit your bigotry at that particular time.

Yoruba fool.

Other tribes will never understand that sophistication.

We may never have a group of persons with so much differences in religion, academic background, political alignments etc... But still live together in absolute peace.

No other tribe can beat that.

Kalapizim:
I am not igbo but consider this statement reckless and coming from a being without any talent of reasoning.

who empowered this unsecured fellow ?

All of you just have to deny being Igbo before you make a point.

Tflex01:
Other tribes will never understand that sophistication.

We may never have a group of persons with so much differences in religion, academic background, political alignments etc... But still live together in absolute peace.

No other tribe can beat that.

Gbam !!!!

candidtalk:


Mumu. Look at the comment you responded to and how its prediction, regarding Igbo obsession with everything Yoruba, has been proven correct in the thread below:

https://www.nairaland.com/5404894/tinubu-know-mc-oluomo

Oga an Igbo man can never be obsessed with any Yoruba person. All what you're just saying is absolutely rubbish. Keep your stupidity to your self.

candidtalk:


You and those who responded above have comprehension issues. Do you not note where the interviewer asked him "what about Ndigbo?" to note the mans was responding to a direct question and not talking about Igbos unsolicited? You lot flatter yourselves thinking Yorubas care about you more than you do about them.

The evidence and truth of the matter is here on NL daily with how most Yorubas cannot even name one Igbo governor yet you Igbos can name all SW Governors, their children and even grand-children. Is this not how Abia man wakes up daily to shout Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu etc whereas most Yorubas don't even know or care who governs Abia.

@bolded:
Was it an Ijaw that asked him that question? You guys have a chronic inferiority complex.

Tflex01:


All of you just have to deny being Igbo before you make a point.

Does it matter ?

Ndigbo don’t have a well-structured organisation. At the time we had our first medical doctor there was none in these two parts of the country you are talking about. When Bishop Ajayi Crowther came to Nigeria none of these two parts of the world had anything to do with education. The Yoruba nation is different. We can interact, have a common agenda and work together for the good of Yoruba nation but we are too sophisticated to be restricted to a single socio-cultural organisation. You must work to earn your leadership position in Yoruba land. It is not just given to anyone who has served the race creditably.-Dr Kunle Olajide

This man is not only a fool he is also mad and ignoramus native doctor.