MESSAGE TO OUR MESSIAHS’; THE PATH TO REGIONAL EQUALITY

From Lateef Isiaq Adewale

For the first time since June 1993 M.K.O Abiola election annulment, we have lived in pieces like a broken gourd. 27 years after, there is now a concession on Amotekun” that could end up in similar faith if we don’t mend our self-betraying ways and pitch our tents together in the spirit of common purpose and define agenda. It may be late to go back to history but our present and the future could yet be secured before it is too late. Yoruba needs Yoruba’s, for the sake of peace, harmony, and tranquility in our land.

As a concern heir of Oduduwa, I write to plead for equanimity, responsibility, and sense of direction from all the Yoruba leaders on handling plots against “Amotekun security outfit “in this challenging atmosphere. Our voice has gone viral beyond borders, and the world anxiously awaits our resilience and devotion to our agitation on breaking-free from false political culture that has waylaid our progress and growth as a unique tribe since the adoption of a federal system.

Our history is laden with emotions, and seductive compromises which if allowed to continue will completely deprive us of our freedom to function as a majority in the national frame. Although, they have longed killed us in spirit, yet our soul still begs for resurrection and timely repatriation to our Cultural values and customs acknowledgment before we front a loss-battle. There is no account of Yoruba administrator's downfall without the consent of another expecting favor from other tribes in Authority. Our past is filled with a betrayal of fellow tribesmen and attempts to bring the other person down for personal grudges and witch-hunting.

As a proverb said “Kokoro tin JE igba, Idi Igba lowa”, no other phrase could rightly tell the stories of our past political adventures. How do we define a head from the bottom when greediness continues to frustrate our customs, needs, and vision? We have lost our identity and common purpose. The question is, how long should we disengage from our reality?
Maybe it’s never too late as prof. Wole Soyinka suggested, Operation Amotekun is just an eye-opener to our common problems and thus leave the onus on Yoruba Leaders; all the executive governors, past and present administration, traditional kings and all other stakeholders at home or in the diaspora. There are certain things to be done to deliver our land from poverty, illiteracy, insecurity, unemployment and political servitude. Unless the following becomes achievable, we cannot boldly stage claim on regional - dependency and sustenance.

FIRSTLY, defining Agricultural priority and securing the means to bolster the sector; most of the historical structures, schools, hospitals in Yoruba land were built with cocoa money but here we are today, how many farmland do we have remaining, how many farmers gets enough encouragement and supports from their state government and financial institutions? All because we no longer consider agriculture as a way of life. However, declaring an emergency on the Agricultural sector across all the Yoruba states will not only give us enough food supply, but it will also, to a greater extent aid government finances and thus reduce dependence on federal allocation. Whereas this will only be achievable if real farmers can be given direct access to the state government in order to bypass the political gate which often direct resources on political sharing rather than practical ability.

Secondly, stopping the disparity on faith, favoritism, and nepotism; we are unlike all other tribes in the country and accepting this fact will be key to addressing our general problems. Our bias demeanor is not helping, many of hopes have succumbed to failure in the name of religion differences, social differences between a Yoruba man to another, between a Yoruba family to another, between a village to another, and now it is progressing to the people of common faith but different ideology all among the Yoruba’s. An employer from the “right church is not willing to employ job seeker from the “left church”, a boss from Islamic movement A is not open to help his personnel from movement B. where could all these disparities lead us?

Thirdly, promoting cultural values and enforcing our language in schools and on children; nothing could be more painful than to see our culture and language go into extinction without any reason. Some parents are lost themselves and allow their own insensitivity to affect their children. I watched Anthony Joshua prostrating for Mr. President on one occasion and I began to imagine the madness of some local parents. Would speaking Yoruba makes children blunt in the head or stop them from speaking good English. Obviously, parents, teachers also have their own role to play if they really have value for their cultural heritage. Also, there should be a combining effort, especially among Yoruba Leaders to find a means to integrate the Yoruba language as a core subject, especially at the primary and secondary levels.

Equally, addressing Youth unemployment across Yoruba states; the number of unemployed graduates in southwestern states is the highest throughout the federation, and this is taking its toll on high rates of mental cases among youths. Thousands are battling depression, many no longer believe in themselves after a series of rejection and disappointment. No matter how irrelevant an individual maybe there will certainly a positive in him/her. The Yoruba leaders as a matter of urgency need to come to the rescue of teeming challenged youths and give them new hope to live a meaningful.
However, to achieve all I have mentioned above, Yoruba leaders must accept huge responsibility and be courageous enough to steer the course of emancipation. More so, in a challenging period like this, there should no room for back-biting, back-sliding and hypocrisies.

The future of Yoruba people should not be tied to political will, sectional interest, or religious differences now or anytime in the future. if at all there is any clue of illegality on whatever events that are not meant to endanger the lives and properties of people directly or indirectly, neither sabotaging the political will of another region, then such effort or activity should be adopted in good faith.As a matter of fact, the Amotekun issue has come to remind us that our constitution is no longer fit for our togetherness as a nation, and its contents are way too obsolete to address our needs and guide our path to the better Nigeria we all craving for. Our law should clarify and classify our differences and the bodies should be structured according to the customs, culture and social understanding of his tribe. If the constitution could recognize shariah law that’s so relevant to the northerners, why on earth the same constitution will forbid other tribes from putting forward an agenda that’s so befitting their history, and momentum. It is worthy to note that Yoruba are not enemies of other tribes, as we are the most peace-loving people with a substantive sense of tolerance and selflessness. Therefore, our intention to establish regional security should not be misconstrued as a bid to pursue an Oduduwa Republic agenda.

All thanks to all the patriotic Yoruba leaders from home and abroad for taking it upon your shoulders to front this bidding for regional security, peace, and harmony. May Almighty Eledumare crown your efforts and attempts to deliver us from intimidation and high-handedness aimed to enslave our values and condemn us to eternal “tail-tag”.