The Aare-in-Council, a body of all the chiefs of the 15th Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Ige Adams, has called on Yoruba leaders all over the world to come together and forge a common front.
The Council made the call in a statement issued and signed by the Baaroyin Aareonakakanfo, Shola Osunkeye, following conclusion of its quarterly meeting held at the weekend, in Ikeja, Lagos, and chaired by the Yoruba generalissimo, Iba Adams.
The Council, while speaking on the parley, which deliberated on several issues relating to the development of the South-West and its people, said it was high time Yoruba people both at home and in the Diaspora joined hands to ensure that the South-West was not relegated to the background in the scheme of things in the country.
It equally called on Yoruba leaders to come up with structures that would engender lasting peace, economic buoyancy, and good governance in Yorubaland.
“Yoruba leaders should join hands to put in place structures that will ensure security, buoyant economy, good governance and food security in the southwest,” it said.
The Aare-in-Council added that the leaders should rally Yoruba intelligentsia to come up with strategies and policies that would take care of the welfare of the people and eradicate poverty from the region.
The Council, while commending Iba Adams for his dogged dedication to the promotion of Yoruba culture and heritage, urged the governors of the six South-West states to make the teaching of Yoruba language compulsory in all secondary secondary schools across the geo-political zone.
The body reiterated its call for the restructuring of the country, maintaining that regionalism remained the only option to put Nigeria on the right path to development, just as it expressed its readiness to work with the governors of the six South-West states on security matters to ensure that every form of criminality and insecurity was stamped out of the region.
“We restates our call for the restructuring of the country. It has become obvious that regionalism is the only sure-footed route to Nigeria’s development,” the statement said.
Speaking further, the Aare-in-Council commended Obas in Yorubaland for their dedication and purposeful actions aimed at promoting Yoruba culture and heritage, urging them to join hands and form a template that would provide leadership for the South-West region.
Members of the Council also restated their commitment to defend the interest of the Yoruba race anywhere and everywhere.
“As members of the Aare-in-council, we remain committed to the defence of Yoruba race anywhere and everywhere,” the council said.
The meeting witnessed a large turnout of members in Nigeria and in the Diaspora and among the chiefs that attended the meeting, both physically and via Zoom are the Osi Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland; Gani Kayode Balogun; Parakoyi Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Prof. Kolawole Raheem; Gbonka Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gboyega Adejumo; Baaroyin Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Shola Osunkeye; Otun- Baaroyin Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Segun Ajiboye; Baamofin Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Kehinde Oluwole and Baameto Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Akeem Ademola Ige.
Also at the meeting are the Atoloye Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Babajide Tanimowo; Asoju Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Barr Yinka Oguntimehin; Bareejiro Aareonakakanfo, Dauda Asikolaiye; Yeye Opeluwa Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Esther Oyebola; Akinluwa Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Olawale Mann; Agbaoye and Agbaakin Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland.
Others are the Akingbayi Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Victor Adewale; Yeye Gbareniyi, Eniola Owolabi; Tunarese Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Alhaji Gani Wahab; Bameeso and Yeye Baameso, Alhaji and Alhaja Otukoya; Agbaakin Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Adesanya; Baala Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Moshood Aderoju, amongst others.
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