Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
Former President of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Col Samuel Agbede, retd, has stated that despite the opposition of some Yoruba leaders to All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Yoruba people know who they will vote for in the 2023 presidential election.
He explained that Tinubu’s opposition is similar to the rejection of President Olusegun Obasanjo by the same section of Yoruba leadership, claiming that the acting leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, is motivated by political sentiments, whereas Pa Rueben Fasoranti is motivated by Yoruba interests.
Adebanjo previously supported Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, while Fasoranti recently supported Tinubu in Akure.
The development has split the apex body into two camps, creating confusion about where the Yoruba stand on the presidency in 2023.
However, in an exclusive interview with Sunday reporters, the elder statesman stated that the matter may not affect Yoruba people’s choice.
He went on to say that what is most important right now is the race’s interest.
“There are parallels,” he says. Tinubu is disliked by a large number of Yoruba people. But, as I previously stated, whether a child lives or dies, you must first rejoice with the parents. When you study the political landscape and look back in time, you will see what is going on in Yoruba land. I pity the current generation for not studying history. Unfortunately, they do not study history and are unaware of Yoruba history, making it difficult to comprehend what is going on now. Yoruba had existed prior to Usmanu dan fodyo’s jihad and amalgamation. We keep bringing up interest because that is what various actors in our history have done. When the British ruled Nigeria, they were motivated by their interest.
That is why they concluded that it was preferable to use the South’s wealth to serve the North. It was done to prevent the British economy from funding the North and South. To return to the NADECO people, when they took over government in the South-West states in 1999, they performed dismally on the AD platform. They were almost as bad as Abacha, except they didn’t murder the masses. It was unfortunate that they betrayed the trust placed in them by the Yoruba people. You could see how some of them accumulated wealth today. They did exactly what they were opposed to during the Abacha regime. When the Yoruba voted for them after Abacha, they had nothing. How did they amass such wealth?
“Yes, his position represents the interests of Yoruba people throughout the country.” We respect what he said. He’s a Yoruba elder who’s seen it all. He’s been there a long time and understands what Yoruba interest entails. He knows exactly what he’s talking about. It’s not that Pa Adebanjo hasn’t seen everything and doesn’t understand what he’s saying, but as I mentioned, he’s trying to repay a favor that someone did for him during a difficult time. Adebanjo is an experienced lawyer. He is aware of history, but he is attempting to change sides. He can’t claim ignorance of Nigeria’s lack of equity. He would not claim that justice exists in Nigeria. He cannot deny that he is aware of nepotism in Nigeria. Nobody can tell him that. He’s putting them aside because he has feelings. Yorubas are wise people. They know exactly where they are going. Allow Afenifere and Adebanjo to accompany them, Yoruba knows where they are going. They, the Afenifere, have not been doing so recently. They did it during Obasanjo’s second coming. Only YCE supported Obasanjo’s second coming. People from Afenifere stated unequivocally that they did not support Obasanjo for whatever reason. Did Obasanjo lose? He won because the Yoruba people knew where they were going and are still going this time. That is why one or two of them are not taken seriously by Yoruba people. Yoruba unity and destiny are unassailable. The Yoruba people know where they are going.” (The full interview will be published next week.)
