The Aare-in-Council, comprising chiefs of the 15th Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Ige Adams, has called on Yoruba people across the globe to unite and pursue a common agenda.
This appeal was made during the council’s quarterly meeting held over the weekend at the palace of the Aareonakakanfo.
In a statement signed by the Baaroyin Aareonakakanfo, Shola Osunkeye, the council discussed various issues affecting the development of the Southwest region and its people.
Iba Adams, who presided over the meeting, emphasised the need for Yoruba unity, urging those at home and abroad to work together to prevent the region from being sidelined in Nigeria’s political and socio-economic landscape.
The Council also called on Yoruba leaders to come up with structures that will engender lasting peace and economic buoyancy 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,” the council advised.
It added that the leaders should rally Yoruba intelligentsia to come up with strategies and policies that will take care of the welfare of the people and eradicate poverty from the region.
While commending Iba Adams for his dogged dedication to the promotion of Yoruba culture and heritage, the Council urged the governors of the six Southwest state to make the teaching of Yoruba language compulsory in all secondary secondary schools across the Southwest.
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The Council reiterated its call for the restructuring of the country, maintaining that regionalism remains the only option to put Nigeria on the right path to development.
“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.
It expressed its readiness to work with the governors of the six southwest states on security matters to ensure that every form of criminality and insecurity is stamped out of the region.
The Aare-in-council commended obas in Yorubaland for their dedication and purposeful actions aimed at promoting Yoruba culture and heritage. It went ahead to urge the obas to join hands and form a template that will provide leadership for the southwest.
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 added.
The meeting witnessed a large turnout of members in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
Among the chiefs that attended the meeting, both physically and via zoom from the Diaspora 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, Chief Adesanya; Agbaakin Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland and Baala Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland,Moshood Aderoju among others.