From Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
The Oluwo of Iwo Kingdom in Osun State, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, has urged Yoruba people across the country to work for a Yoruba presidency instead of calling for secession.
He described agitaions for secession and an Oodua nation as a dream, saying the project is dead on arrival.
The first-class traditional ruler from Osun State accompanied by his colleague, Akire of Ikire-Ile, Oba Abdulazeez Olatubosun Adebamiji, disclosed this while addressing Yoruba leaders in Sokoto State on a three day visit to the state.
He called on Yoruba people residing in Sokoto not to panic in response to calls for secession by some groups in the country.
If they ask you people to come down to your place in the South, what happened to your business and whatever you are doing here?
‘All what I am saying is that instead of calling a tribe criminal, what happened to some of the Yoruba people who are into crimes in this part of the country, do we now call all of you criminals?
‘It is disheartening seeing people in Yoruba land chasing away Hausa/Fulani in the South not minding if such a person is a culprit or not.
‘I came here to promote peace among every Nigerians, irrespective of their state of origin or where they comes from.’
Oba Abdulrasheed further called on all Yoruba people living either in the North or any part of the world to instead of calling for secession should rather used the next general election to elect a Yoruba man for president.
‘Any Yoruba son who emerged as a candidate for any political party irrespective of the political party should be supported by all Yoruba.
‘It is the time for Yoruba to become President of the country and we must make use of the opportunity rather than calling for secession or Oodua nation,’ he added.
Other notable leaders of Yoruba community presence include Seriki Yorubawa of Sokoto, Alhaji Abdulfatai Olayiwola Cooker, Chief Imam of Yoruba in Sokoto, Professor SO Rabiu and Professor Ayodele Salawu.
Others includes Professor Sarafeen Ogundiya, Professor Abdulwaheed Akin Hassan among other leaders.