A Yoruba Diaspora – based socio-cultural organisation, the Yoruba Global Council (YGC), has urged presidential aspirants of the Yoruba extraction, especially those in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to eschew divisive politics and electoral violence as the country prepares for the primaries and 2023 general polls.
It pleaded with Southwest presidential aspirants, particularly those in APC like APC stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to be circumspect in the way and manner they go about their political ambition.
The council, in a statement by its spokesman, Prof. Lere Amusan and general secretary, Prince Segun Akanni, appealed to the aspirants to resist the game plan of the fifth columnists and foes of the Yoruba nation, who are bent on taking the presidency away from the Yoruba in 2023.
It said: “YGC believes that 2023 presents another golden opportunity for the Yoruba to produce the next President for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and divisive politicking or politics of ego and self-centeredness among those jostling for the number one seat must not be allowed to jeopardise such prospect.”
Stressing that history is replete with circumstances in which the Yoruba lost their coveted territory of Ilorin, the council noted: “Another trait of disunity played out during the June 12 struggle in which prominent Yoruba sons and leaders left Chief MKO Abiola in the lurch, thereby making the race lose the most exalted seat in the land.
The group, therefore, enjoined the presidential aspirants, especially the APC heavyweights, to sheath their swords, come together, play ball and find a common ground through which a credible, reliable, responsible and capable Yoruba son will be fielded to represent the nation’s collective interest and aspirations.
The council believes it is Yoruba time and moment to produce the next president for the country going forward, stressing that all efforts to torpedo that dream by enemies of the race by pitching one Yoruba aspirant against the other will be fought with every resource at its disposal.