Insult on Awo: Apologise or else… -Yoruba tells Omatseye

THE Yoruba, on the platform of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), have warned the chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation newspapers, Mr Sam Omatseye, to apologise to the Yeye Odua,

Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, the Awolowo family and the entire Yoruba nation, or face whatever consequences his refusal will bring.

This warning was contained in a communique issued at the end of the forum’s meeting held at the Efunyela, Hall of the Awolowos home in Ikenne- Remo, Ogun State, on Thursday.

At the meeting presided over by the forum’s acting chairman, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and attended by prominent Yoruba leaders, traditional rulers and hundreds of youths, temper rose to a fever pitch when the issue of Omatseye’s “condemnable” tirade against the sage’s family was raised.

Speaker after speaker, berated Mr Omatseye, describing the article as insult to the entire Yoruba race.

In the communique, signed by Archbishop Ladigbolu, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Femi Okurounmu; and the secretary of the forum, Senator Tony Adefuye, the body said the haughty and unapologetic posture of Omatseye was more offensive and irritative.

“The forum condemned in the strongest terms the vituperation of one Sam Omatseye concerning the Awolowo family and considered it an insult to the Yoruba race and an attempt to desecrate the cherished heritage of the Yoruba people.

“It considered the haughty and unapologetic posture of Omatseye and his sponsors since the infamous publication as even more offensive and irritating, warning them that only God and the people could confer leadership on any individual and not his wealth.

“The forum calls on Omatseye to tender an unreserved apology to the Yoruba and the Awolowo family. While the Yoruba Unity Forum is prepared to forgive, consequent upon appropriate apology, they should be prepared for any consequences, if they fail to apologise,” the communique read.

The forum, which also reviewed the killing of Yoruba people in the crisis that erupted in parts of the North in the wake of the last general election, threatened that the Yoruba would react if any such occurence repeated itself.

“The forum reviewed the post-election killing of youth corps members in the North, especially the Yoruba among them, and warned that killing of Yoruba anywhere in the country must stop henceforth, or else, the Yoruba would be forced to react.

“Thr forum also took steps to redeem its promise to the Yoruba in Jos, Plateau State, who had suffered persecution and mass murder of their relations in the recurring crisis in the city,” it stated.

Among other Yoruba leaders present at the meeting were former Attorney General and World Court justice, Prince Bola Ajibola; former governor of Lagos State, Chief Lateef Kayode Jakande; former Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange; former Chief of General Staff, General Oladipo Diya; director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; former military governor of the old Western Region, Admiral Akin Aduwo; former deputy governors of Lagos, Oyo and Ekiti states, Chief (Mrs) Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja and Dr Sikiru Tae Lawal, respectively; and founder of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Fredrick Fasheun.

Others were chieftain of Afenifere, Alhaji Rasheed Shita Bey; Senator Suleiman Salawu; a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osun State, Alhaji Kazeem Adio; coordinator of Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), Mr Olufemi Aduwo; former coach of the nation’s national football team, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde; Mr Tokunbo Ajasin; the chairman, Egbe Omo Yoruba in the United States of America (USA), Mr Ola Ogunwole.

In a related development, Yoruba elders also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to find all means of making amends over the alleged marginalisation of the Yoruba people in the sharing of political offices in his administration.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II was represented by the Oludo of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Agbowu of Ogbagba, Oba Sikirulahi Olaleke and Salu of Edun-Abon, Oba Elijah Omoloye Oyelade.

In the communique it issued after its meeting, the Yoruba Unity Forum said a situation in which the Yoruba were schemed out of the top positions in the political hierarchy of the nation was deplorable.

“The forum deplored the situation where the Yoruba have been schemed out of the top places in the political hierarchy of the country. It enjoins President Goodluck Jonathan to remember that the Yoruba voted for him overwhelmingly, but not for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“It, therefore, calls on the president to make amends quickly to give the Yoruba a sense of belonging in the nation, and show appreciation for the massive support they gave his election,” the forum said.