Insult on Awo: Apologise or else,  -Yoruba tells Omatseye
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Written by Jackson Udom, Stephen Gbadamosi and Olayinka Olukoya
Friday, 24 June 2011

THE Yoruba, on the platform of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), have warned the chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation newspapers, Mr Sam Omatseye, to apologise to the Yeye Odua,



Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, the Awolowo family and the entire Yoruba nation, or face whatever consequences his refusal will bring.

This warning was contained in a communique issued at the end of the forum's meeting held at the Efunyela, Hall of the Awolowos home in Ikenne- Remo, Ogun State, on Thursday.

At the meeting presided over by the forum's acting chairman, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and attended by prominent Yoruba leaders, traditional rulers and hundreds of youths, temper rose to a fever pitch when the issue of Omatseye's "condemnable" tirade against the sage's family was raised.

Speaker after speaker, berated Mr Omatseye, describing the article as insult to the entire Yoruba race.

In the communique, signed by Archbishop Ladigbolu, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Femi Okurounmu; and the secretary of the forum, Senator Tony Adefuye, the body said the haughty and unapologetic posture of Omatseye was more offensive and irritative.

"The forum condemned in the strongest terms the vituperation of one Sam Omatseye concerning the Awolowo family and considered it an insult to the Yoruba race and an attempt to desecrate the cherished heritage of the Yoruba people.

"It considered the haughty and unapologetic posture of Omatseye and his sponsors since the infamous publication as even more offensive and irritating, warning them that only God and the people could confer leadership on any individual and not his wealth.

"The forum calls on Omatseye to tender an unreserved apology to the Yoruba and the Awolowo family. While the Yoruba Unity Forum is prepared to forgive, consequent upon appropriate apology, they should be prepared for any consequences, if they fail to apologise," the communique read.

The forum, which also reviewed the killing of Yoruba people in the crisis that erupted in parts of the North in the wake of the last general election, threatened that the Yoruba would react if any such occurence repeated itself.

"The forum reviewed the post-election killing of youth corps members in the North, especially the Yoruba among them, and warned that killing of Yoruba anywhere in the country must stop henceforth, or else, the Yoruba would be forced to react.

"Thr forum also took steps to redeem its promise to the Yoruba in Jos, Plateau State, who had suffered persecution and mass murder of their relations in the recurring crisis in the city," it stated.

Among other Yoruba leaders present at the meeting were former Attorney General and World Court justice, Prince Bola Ajibola; former governor of Lagos State, Chief Lateef Kayode Jakande; former Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange; former Chief of General Staff, General Oladipo Diya; director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; former military governor of the old Western Region, Admiral Akin Aduwo; former deputy governors of Lagos, Oyo and Ekiti states, Chief (Mrs) Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja and Dr Sikiru Tae Lawal, respectively; and founder of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasheun.

Others were chieftain of Afenifere, Alhaji Rasheed Shita Bey; Senator Suleiman Salawu; a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osun State, Alhaji Kazeem Adio; coordinator of Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), Mr Olufemi Aduwo; former coach of the nation's national football team, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde; Mr Tokunbo Ajasin; the chairman, Egbe Omo Yoruba in the United States of America (USA), Mr Ola Ogunwole.

In a related development, Yoruba elders also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to find all means of making amends over the alleged marginalisation of the Yoruba people in the sharing of political offices in his administration.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II was represented by the Oludo of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Agbowu of Ogbagba, Oba Sikirulahi Olaleke and Salu of Edun-Abon, Oba Elijah Omoloye Oyelade.

In the communique it issued after its meeting, the Yoruba Unity Forum said a situation in which the Yoruba were schemed out of the top positions in the political hierarchy of the nation was deplorable.

"The forum deplored the situation where the Yoruba have been schemed out of the top places in the political hierarchy of the country. It enjoins President Goodluck Jonathan to remember that the Yoruba voted for him overwhelmingly, but not for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

"It, therefore, calls on the president to make amends quickly to give the Yoruba a sense of belonging in the nation, and show appreciation for the massive support they gave his election," the forum said.

Should he apologise

NO!
What has he done? WE nigerians hate the truth. If were him i will never apologise

Somebody should please tell these old people that the real yoruba people has kicked out pdp.

Source please?

No other than TRIBUNE RUBBISH

This Awolowo family is starting to piss me off.

Who gave them the right to speak on behalf of the Yoruba?  

Speak for yourself and leave it for that!

abes:

Somebody should please tell these old people that the real yoruba people has kicked out pdp.

Hey dude! This is not about PDP, this about a legacy that a nonentity is trying to rubbish! Get it?

The Yoruba people kicked out non-performance, the same reason for which they enthroned PDP in 2003 and kicked out AD.

Tribune again: http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/24039-insult-on-awo-apologise-or-else-yoruba-tells-omatseye

Smh

ekt_bear:

This Awolowo family is starting to piss me off.

Who gave them the right to speak on behalf of the Yoruba?  

Speak for yourself and leave it for that!

Did you see Awolowo written as the last name for all the attendees? Anyway, you have the right to jump into the river if you like!!!

This is why hereditary leadership is a terrible idea.

That a man was great (Awolowo) does not mean his wife or children will be great.

Desperate to maintain relevance by any means necessary.

X-factoria:

Hey dude! This is not about PDP, this about a legacy that a nonentity is trying to rubbish! Get it?

The Yoruba people kicked out non-performance, the same reason for which they enthroned PDP in 2003 and kicked out AD.

Can you please tell us the legacy you are referring to.

please did any other news paper carry the report.

If its only TRIBUNE then its pure rubbish of the highest order.

abes:

Can you please tell us the legacy you are referring to.

No wonder you were saying rubbish. Go and ask your Dad or your grown up Uncles who were born not later than the early 50s!

With all due respect to mama HID, Omatseye has done no wrong but spoken the truth. Those calling for his head should rescind now

ekt_bear:

This is why hereditary leadership is a terrible idea.

That a man was great (Awolowo) does not mean his wife or children will be great.

Desperate to maintain relevance by any means necessary.

Your comments are most unfair!

Have you ever heard of Awolowo's children making comments on Nigeria's politics since 1999? The Awolowo family left politics a long time ago since Dr (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu failed to realize her ambition to govern Lagos State. They have been living their quiet lives thereafter until Tinubu tried to buy their endorsement of his "Yoruba Leadership" campaign which they refused. His dog, Omatseye then deemed it fit to get back at them in a rare display of contempts and with the most  uncultured manners ever seen of any Nigerian journalist in recent times.

So you see that it is your godfather Tinubu who desperately wants relevance and not them.

Kennyblues:

With all due respect to mama HID, Omatseye has done no wrong but spoken the truth. Those calling for his head should rescind now

What truth?? Omatseye did so many things wrong. Judging the children of Awolowo as weaklings who cannot uphold their father's values, crticizing their non-involvement in today's politics, especially not openly supporting an offshoot of their father's AG i.e. Tinubu's ACN and  insinuating that they are less Awoist than rogues like Tinubu, codedly calling them "bast-ards" for not queuing behind Tinubu for the advancement of his "Kingdom" etc.

Save for Mama HID whom South West politicians have always courted for favours that no longer exist as the woman is too old to influence anything in anybody's favour, Awo's children are not even known in today's political circles. Oluwole Awolowo, the Publisher of Tribune is an evangelist and a man that fears God, another daughter who is now late was also an Evangelist preaching the gospel and their are 2 other daughters which includes Mrs Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu (the only one seem to be interested in politics but who has mellowed down since losing out on Lagos Governorship seat in 1999).

So what is their sin??

If the gathering were that important for yoruba race, am sure a GOv from SW would have attended. Not even LP GOV of ondo showed up

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/june/24/national-24-06-2011-018.html

’West govs shun Yoruba Unity Forum meeting
By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO and SEGUN ADEGBITE Abeokuta
Friday, June 24, 2011

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The six South-West governors were conspicuously absent yesterday at the reconvened Yoruba Unity Forum which held at the Ikenne, Ogun State home of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and presided over by the matriarch of the Awolowo, Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.

Among those officially invited were Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, his counterparts, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Lagos, Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo, Raufu Aregbesola, Osun, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti, and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo.

While none of the invited governors serving and former, attended other attendees are former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen Oladipo Diya (rtd.), Kofoworola, Bucknor-Akerele, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former deputy to the former Oyo State governor, Alhaji Taofeeq Arapaja, among others. Although a formal invitation was extended to the governors, it was a surprise that none of them was around.
During the meeting, the forum urged President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently ensure that the Yoruba nation occupies its rightful position in the political hierarchy. This was necessary so as to give the race a sense of belonging in the country.

Apparently reacting to the loss of the speakership of the House of Representatives which gave the position to Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the forum decried the role played by some politicians from the South-West.
The group lamented lack of cohesion among Yoruba and stated that it was what assisted Tambuwal to assume that position among Yoruba honourables.

In a communiqué, the forum decried a situation where the race was completely schemed out of top political positions in the Jonathan administration urging the President to “remember that the race voted for him and not his party”. While reviewing the post election killings in some parts of the North, the forum warned that the killing of Yoruba anywhere in the country must stop.

On the speculations that the Yoruba leadership is up for grabs, Senator Tony Adefuye said it is not vacant.
He added that no matter what anybody says, “Mama H.I.D Awolowo is our leader and she is performing the role effectively.

Is this Awo a God or what?

X-factoria:

No wonder you were saying rubbish. Go and ask your Dad or your grown up Uncles who were born not later than the early 50s!

You don't need to show me how stupid you are. I simply asked you to explain something, if you don't know it, the best you can do is just ignore.
Now I ask you again, what 'legacy' are you referring to?