Leader of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC Reformed), Amb. Dare Adesope, has urged all factions of OPC in the country to come together in order to put an end to security challenges in the South West which he said had prevented the people in the region from engaging in agriculture, considered the main preoccupation of Yoruba.
Amb. Dare made the call at a press conference held in Lagos in commemoration of OPC 30th Anniversary, paying great tributes to pioneers of the socio-cultural group, whose initiative had not only set up the indigenous group but had a vision to build it up not only as the best performing security medium but a platform to represent Yoruba race.
He particularly eulogised the founder, Late Dr. Frederick Isiotan Fasehun, whom he said the “honour of Founder’s Day should be given to” for creating this platform that is enjoyed by all today, with the support of other Yoruba leaders.
“As we all know that our major job is agriculture. In years back our farmers go to farm without fear of being attacked by herdsmen, but it is a different ball game today. The herdsmen do not only attack, but maimed killed, destroy their farms and rape our women.
“Lives and properties are no longer safe. So, by virtue of this, I am imploring us all to come together irrespective of the factions we belong to and put an end to this menace and for the government to allow us to take charge of the security of our land, and we will do it without violating the laws.
“I recall with gratitude the initiative of the pioneers of OPC who had not only set up the Indigenous sociocultural group but had a vision to build it up not only as the best performing security medium but a platform to represent Yoruba race.
“The OPC story would not be completed without mentioning the name of the founder, Dr. Frederick Isiotan Fasehun. ‘Baba’ as we fondly call him with the support of some other Yoruba leaders created this platform that is enjoyed by all today, so the honour of Founder’s Day should be given to him.
“I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt felicitations to those who stood solidly behind Oodua People’s Congress for their guidance and directions. My appreciation also goes to the dedicated OPC members across the board for their contribution to the betterment of the group, which must also be put on record,” the Reformed OPC chieftain said.
Dare, while calling for unity among all the factions of the OPC, said his personal aspiration for all in Yoruba land is to be able to walk freely anytime of the day and to be building fenceless houses and sleep with both eyes closed, saying that all the leaders of the socio- cultural group should please key into this dream of his which he described as achievable.
The OPC chieftain, who noted that members had over the last 30years passed through oppression, intimidation, brutalization, and so many unprintable adjectives, but remained committed to the group’s mission to defend Yoruba land at all cost, further employed them to embrace unity, saying that it was time now for them to unite for the sake of Yoruba land as nothing can be gained in diversity.
“My personal aspiration for us in Yoruba land is to be able to walk freely anytime of the day and to be building fenceless houses and sleep with both eyes closed. In this regard I am pleading that all the leaders of OPC should please key into this achievable dream of mine.
“Over the last thirty (30) years, our members have passed through oppression, intimidation, brutalization, and so many unprintable adjectives, but we remain committed to our mission: ‘To defend Yoruba land at all cost.’
“I implore every OPC faction to embrace unity; we cannot gain anything in diversity. The time is now! Yoruba land needs us when we are united,” he pleaded.
Speaking further, Amb.Dare, while noting that though each faction had its own leader, argued that all of them can still come together to have a talk about Yoruba land security due to the need “to redirect our focus towards achieving the original aims and objectives of the organisation.”
According to him, the reformation should cut across to make it achievable, charging all members to “put aside our greed and act of self centeredness and and make the interest of Yoruba people our priority.”
“It is time for us to come together to discuss how we can secure Yoruba land from intruders. One Yoruba adage say ‘Anikanrin nii jẹ ọmọ ejo niya’ meaning, disunity kills snakes.
“Every OPC member is a product of Late Dr. Fasehun, he had his own shortcomings too, but he’s human, which means he can never be perfect.
“He is late now and as beneficiaries of his ideas, all that is expected of us is to be praying for him to continue to rest in peace and not try to steal his achievements,” he admonishes.
