FULL TEXT OF THE ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE ONDO STATE CHAPTER OF THE NIGERIA POLITICAL SUMMIT HELD AT THE STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AKURE BY THE NATIONAL CONVENER, AMB. (DR) ADEWALE ADEOGUN ON WEDNESDAY, 13TH DECEMBER, 2023
Good Afternoon Sir, Our Chief Host, Prince Diran Iyantan; Members of the High table; the much appreciated members the Nigerian Press; Members of the Summit Planning Committee (led by our own Chief (Mrs) Ronke Kolade Carew); and my other fellow South West Support Group Leaders. All Protocols duly observed.
I say good day to all patriotic descendants of Oduduwa, the founder of the entire Yoruba race across towns and cities all over Nigeria to this crucial political summit. We must be proud of our race as one of the foremost and most respected across Nigeria, Togo, Benin and even the USA and Brazil. Over the decades, the integrity, dignity, worth and values attributable to our OMOLUABI culture cannot be bench-marked with any other bot on our continent and the entire globe. For the records, the pride of an average Yoruba man is never an empty one; it exists both in acts and pacts with facts. It may interest you to note categorically that –
Recently in Russia, the entire country was shocked when a certain Yoruba Medical student graduated from a Russian University with an unbelievable impossible CGPA of 5.0 in Medicine and Surgery. This was, however, a feat never made in Russia. When doubted, his Professors organised the exams for him again. True to his academic dignity, the Yoruba student floored them all by scoring 100% in all the exams again.
The 1st blackman to found a university (Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone in the 1830s was a Yoruba man named – Reverend Samuel Ajayi Crowther.
Here in Nigeria, the 1st Nigerian lawyer to defend cases in the British Supreme Court was a Yorubaman named – Christopher Alexander Sapara- Williams, the father of Prince Shyllon’s paternal grandmother. He defended his 1st Supreme Court case in 1881. The Nigeria’s 1999 constitution was a copycat of the 1979 constitution whose ideas was filled (word-for-word) from 2 of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s books titled – ‘Thoughts on Nigerian Constitution’; and ‘The Strategy and Tactics of the People’s Republic of Nigeria’. In other words, a Yorubaman indirectly gave Nigeria its original constitution.
Both of Yoruba origin, the Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti was the 1st Nigerian musician to be listed in the reputable Guinness Book of Records followed by King Sunny Ade. In the world’s literary diary, our own Professor Wole Soyinka was the 1st African to win the grand-standing ‘Nobel Laureate Prize as a global novelist.
The late Chief Alhaji Lateef Jakande (Baba Kekere) was Nigeria’s first Best Governor from 1979 to 1983, due to his outstanding achievements in Lagos State. Difficult to believe, a Nigerian Yoruba politician was the first to midwife and facilitate Nigeria’s most historic political merger that defeated an incumbent President of almost 16 years. While Nigeria’s 1st surgeon was Dr. Adeniyi Jones; the 1st female professor of History in Africa was also a Yoruba female Professor Bolanle Awe.
On the bar and Nigerian bench, Chief Rotimi Williams was the only private lawyer that never lost a case in court. The late sage and Yoruba Elder statesman – Late Chief Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo created Africa’s 1st television station in Africa; the 1st minimum wage in Africa; free education in Africa; Africa’s first skyscraper (Cocoa House in Ibadan); Africa’s 1st Olympic size Stadium in Africa, among many others too numerous for mentioning here.
For those who may not know – EXCELLENCE IS OUR CUTURE & BIRTHRIGHT. Thus – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is just demonstrating what is deeply embedded in him both as a nationalist and as a political leader. We thus must be proud of our strength not only intellectually but demographically which makes it impossible for any President to get elected without the Yoruba race. This was what the Late General Ojukwu and Yakubu Gowon confessed to before General Murtala Mohammed offered to drive home late Chief Awolowo when he first returned to Lagos upon his release from Calabar prison. May our forefathers continue to bless and prosper us all as we sacrifice our comforts for today’s summit.
This summit was convened to push for the following: particularly – with respect to the Presidency of our own dear son and political father – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the 16th Executive President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces:
YORUBA’S UNITY;
CONTINUED UNFLINCHING SUPPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE CURRENT APC-LED GOVERNMENT;
ADEQUATE COMPENSATION AND RECOGNITION OF ALL PARTY-REGISTERED SUPPORT GROUPS FOR THEIR SPIRITED SUPPORT TO THE TINUBU 2023 PROJECT.
YORUBA’S UNITY:
The need for Unity of the Yoruba Tribe both here in Nigeria and Diaspora cannot be over-emphasised. A house divided against itself would surely not stand. Truly, this is the most important time for the Race to be strong and United since our Son is in Power. A divided house would duplicate our efforts which may end up not being productive to all.
The late sage, Chief Hubert Ogunde in one of his legendary songs titled: ‘Yoruba Ronu’ is apt to our current situation.
To use the February 2023 election as an example, we can see how some of our Sons and Daughters campaigned and supported candidates from other tribe. Surprisingly too, we can see how the Ndi-Igbos defeated us in Lagos State – The Pride of the Yoruba Race. Foreigners came out boldly to say our Lagos is a No-Man’s Land. What an infra dig? We must be ready to think deeply and let us channel the right path for our own interest as ‘OMO KAARO OOJIRE’. Those supposed to be preaching Gospel of Unity are in the forefront of creating confusion and disharmony amongst the Race with their unguarded and venomous unpatriotic vituperation. This is wrong. This cannot be condoned. We, therefore, bountifully seek and demand the Unity of all of us having some distrust, misunderstanding amongst ourselves if not for any other reason, but for our Son who represents our Race at the top echelon of governance.
Our true and unambiguous Yoruba Son, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is there for the first time. It behoves us to ensure his success.
THE NEED TO CONTINUALLY SUPPORT PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU & THE GOVERNMENT.
Defining a unique LEADER using the letters of the word in a book titled ‘Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu – Against ALL ODDS’, the author (Adewale Ademola Justus – who incidentally is one of our planning committee members here today) defined Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a ‘Unique LEADER’ who relentlessly Locates, Embraces, Admires, Dignifies and Enigmatically Rewards those that support his ordeals in life. He never forgets his own as ambiguously demonstrated in the appointment of our own son and brother – Chief Pius Akinyelure (from Idanre, Ondo State) as the non-Executive Board Chairman, NNPCL very recently. Leaving no stone unturned and bearing the massive schedules before him, this summit is a wonderful opportunity to call on all Yoruba Leaders and Elders of influence to ceaselessly help remind Mr President to do more for those in the South West APC Support Groups who laid bare everything to support his February 2023 presidential ambition. This is what he has been known for since his emergence in the Nigerian political leadership space. As a father, Asiwaju should please use his present presidential opportunities to pull more people up in the support groups through his blossoming branches of appointments, contracts and executive paraphernalia.
In addition, as our son President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in power today, we must all ensure we give him the utmost support to succeed. Let’s all go out and preach this message to all our children, brothers and sisters who mostly have been deceived by the opposition through lies and campaigns of calumny. It is only Tinubu that has the brain and the tactics to make our beautiful nation to be great again. We must all join him in this onerous task of nation building. We Yoruba of the South West Zone have no alternative than to so do. You will recall the outstanding unflinching support always given by other Tribes when their own gets to the position. The support is always total irrespective of their productivity. President Tinubu has the blue Print and dreams of our revered Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed Memory to build a self-sustaining egalitarian Society. He did it in Lagos and nothing shall stop him from replicating it nationally. All he needs is our support from his home base. Once again – this summit is a call for us to come together as one to protect the entire Yoruba race. We must also ensure that we carry along all our elected officials such as Governors, Senators, National and State Legislators and all other key stakeholders in government who are of Yoruba origin.
COMPENSATION AND RECOGNITION OF ALL PARTY-REGISTERED SUPPORT GROUPS THAT FUELED THE TINUBU 2023 PROJECT:
Without risking any abandonment during the tenure of our own son and father as it has been from time immemorial in the Presidency, we call on all Yoruba Elders and influential individuals to join and help us call forth what is due to us for the unalloyed and risky supports lent to the Asiwaju 2023 Presidential project. Yes, it is saddening to us all that (up till now) nothing has since been done to categorically compensate APC Support Groups (particularly from the South West) for the tumultuous supports and sacrifice in making the February 2023 project a reality. The verifiable performances of APC Support Groups before, during and after the 2023 election was outstanding and undeniably contributory to the success of not only our President but Members of the National Assembly, State Assemblies and Governors under the APC umbrella. We mobilised, canvassed, encouraged, financed and sacrificed greatly throughout the APC Campaign Trains without a Single Kobo coming from any of the office holders. Our conviction, however, was that ‘it is the end that justifies the means’. While we yet live, may the means of seeing the end not be the only testimony for our immeasurable efforts.
Borrowing from our fellows up-north, the Nigeria Political Summit 2023 (South West) was conceived and convened to change the primordial narratives and approach of endlessly waiting, waiting and waiting till the end while other zones get their full share of the economic, political, infrastructural and financial bouquets from the same elective offices we all laboured to onboard through the polls. Without mincing words – our Chief Host, Party Elder Statesmen and other influential personalities around and represented should of a necessity help remind tirelessly Mr president, the Governors and all Lawmakers of the need to oil the bones that walked their routes to the offices of today. Today – it is already six months down the line, no single recognition has been accorded any of the South West APC Support Groups. This unfortunately, is gory!!! For the records, many of our members were physically attacked in Lagos, Oyo and other States during the campaigns and other electioneering activities. Some were maimed, while some still sleep and wake to the realities of numerous wounds on their bodies, pockets and souls by sworn enemies of those relishing the political offices of today. For the records – we (in the South West) cannot have our own, and yet – remain the way we used to be without any improvement!!! Through this summit, we therefore appeal to our indefatigable President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; State Governors; lawmakers; and every other current political office holders to seek ways of redressing this irking injustice, abandonment and unfair treatment of APC South West Support Groups who gave their all in the last general and state elections.
For the above reasons, we earnestly and respectfully request His Excellency – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, State Governors and all our Lawmakers to consider ALL THE APC SUPPORT GROUPS (South West) for:
Board Appointments;
Contract Awards;
Creation of more Leadership Roles for APC Support Groups within the Government Hierarchies; and instigate
Directives to State Governments in APC-controlled States to implement items 1, 2 and 3 above.
To
CONCLUSION
We use this opportunity to thank our Chief Host, itHonourable Diran Iyantan for sparing out time and resources to make this august event a success, as we can all see. Once again, we thank members of the Press and all members of the various South West APC Support Groups that found their ways to this gathering in spite of the extreme financial constraints in our economy.
Finally, this is one of Six Summits for the South West Zone. We shall notify the press and members of the Support Groups of subsequent summits across the entire six South Western States of Nigeria. We humbly expect all leaders within the state and beyond to always turn-out in large numbers to grace the occasion whenever called.
Thank you and God Bless.
Amb. (Dr) Adewale Adeogun
National Convener
THE ROTTEN FISH: CAN OF WORMS OPENED OF APC & TINUBU'S GOVERNMENT OVER NIGERIA'S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
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