The Head of Aborigine Ogboni Confraternity Worldwide, Oba Abdul Adetoyese Olakisan has solicited support of the Yoruba ethnic nationality for the 2023 presidential ambition of the former Governor of Lagos State and the leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Oba Alakisan in a statement made available to the newsmen in Osogbo stressed the need for the Yorubas to work in unity and desist from any act that might sabotage the ambition of Asiwaju Tinubu.
According to him, “it is my responsibility as a traditionalist and spiritualist to give warnings and advices when necessary to prevent any looming tragedy or catastrophe which can befall any individual or nation in the nearest future or at any point in time.”
“let me to state clearly that I am a father to all and not a politician or a card carrying member of any political party in this country and I am duty bound to tell the Yorubad the truth. Let me start from where we are coming from.”
“Obafemi Awolowo is being referred to as the best president Nigeria never had. Who made it impossible? It was the game of some Yoruba’s who sold him out, the rest is now history. On three occasions, Awolowo made attempt at the country’s presidency but failed due to our disunity, disloyalty and unforgiveness, we have started again.”
“MKO Abiola is another great business man, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Egba clan from Yorubaland. He contested for the presidency at the general election in 1993 and was widely regarded as the winner but later annulled. In 1994, he declared himself president and was accused of treason. He was arrested and detained, and later died in detention. All that happened to him was not without the involvement of some Yorubas who believe he was not the messiah and denied him the opportunity of becoming another great president.”
“Late Chief Bola ige was another great Yoruba who sought the nomination of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) as a presidential candidate but was rejected which created disunity both at the party level and Afenifere till today because it gives birth to many social cultural organization that produces many self-made leaders. Why are we doing this to ourselves?
“Obasanjo who eventually won the election was never supported by the Yorubas and he was not voted for by his own people. Who did this to us? Now that we are approaching 2023, we are at it again, condemning ourselves just to discredit and destroy each other.”
“Some Yoruba leaders have started attacking, blackmailing and rubbishing the personality of the person of Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the pages of newspapers for no other reason than envy, hatred, unforgiveness and political differences. Who among them is a saint? Who is perfect among them? This is a great Yoruba man who has not come out openly to declare his intention.”
“Someone even said on the pages of newspaper that if Tinubu declare his intention to contest 2023 election that he will contest against him. Who did this to us? What is offence of this great man? Which court or panel of inquiry indicted him? I have not seen anything legally to disqualify him.”
“When are we going to tolerate ourselves and put the interest of Yoruba land at heart. It is better and advisable to accept and respect the greatness, achievements, leadership capabilities of Ahmed Tinubu. God has helped him with enablement or back up to survive many challenges and political hurdles.”
“We have been taken for granted for long and this is the time Yoruba’s should watch clearly to know who are the real and genuine Yoruba leaders. Any leader that places his or her ambition or aspirations above the general interest of the Yorubas must be avoided”, Oba Olakisan remarked.