Biola Azeez – Ilorin
A pan Yoruba organisation, Oodua Progressive Care Initiative (OPCI), on Sunday, vowed that sons and daughters of Yorubaland will reject any attempt by politicians from any part of the country to truncate the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the president of the organisation, Dr Chief Maruff Olarewaju, condemned the demand for interim government or agitation by some politicians against the inauguration of the winner of the February 25 presidential elections, declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Flanked by other leaders of the OPCI, Chief Olarewaju, said that the organization would mobilize sister organizations and individuals within and outside the country to defend the nation’s democracy, adding, “We are ready to lay down our lives if the situation demands”.
“OPCI as an organisation that believes in the efficacy of law, democracy and the unity of Nigeria, we shall not and we will not fold our arms and be watching these elements of destruction to truncate our democracy. If it was done successfully in the June 12 election in 1993, we will not allow it to repeat itself in the February 25 election.
“We will do everything possible to defend the nation’s democracy, to sustain the democracy, to growth the democracy and to defend the mandate given to Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We will mobilize all sister organizations, Yoruba sons and daughters within and outside the country to defend the said mandate. We are ready to lay down our lives if the situation demands. We shall fight this battle to logical conclusion without looking back.
“We will not allow any intruder or any parasite individual or group of people to dethrone our democracy. We are ready to defend it with the last drop of our blood. Any ill advice that can lead to non-proper handing over on May 29, we will resist it at all cost by any means”.
The organization also urged some Yoruba leaders and groups, said to be against the president-elect and calling for cancellation of the general elections, to desist henceforth, adding that such calls were capable of turning the nation to state of anarchy.
“We are hereby calling on some elements of destruction that are parading themselves as Yoruba leaders either individual or an association no matter of highly place they are, calling for cancellation of the election or any statement from whoever call him/ herself a leader in Yoruba land capable to cause crisis or turn our nation to state of anarchy will be rejected and dealt with.
“We are in a global village. The era of analogue has gone and gone forever. They should not attempt to draw us back by any means. To be fore warned is to be fore armed.
“Ladies and gentlemen, members of the press, the great members of OPCI nationwide, brothers and sisters, Yoruba sons and daughters, may I urge you to please stand firm and prepare ourselves for any eventuality that may happen. Though we don’t pray for war and we don’t want war in our land, the people beating the drum of war by calling for an interim government or military coup are bent on setting this nation on fire. They should stop calling for anarchy or they dance naked to their music in the marketplace.
“I hereby call on Nigerians who are in support of democracy and the unity of our dear nation to remain calm in face of any provocation as President Muhammad Buhari will not leave a bad antecedent or history for himself”.
