The Yoruba Unity Forum has declared that the ethnic group will continue to put itself in strong position within the context of Nigeria and champion the cause of progress and development in the country.
The Forum, which described the recent activities of the Yoruba Nation agitators as misguided, said the elders have warned the agitators and that the Yoruba race’s interest would be best protected within the context of one Nigeria.
According to the leader of the Forum, Senator Femi Okurounmu, who led others on a courtesy visit to the Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, the Forum comprises Yoruba leaders of thought across political party lines, who came together to protect the interest of Yorubaland.
Senator Okurounmu stated that the Forum was in Ibadan to visit and congratulate the governor, describing his leadership as active, vibrant and formidable.
He said: “We are a delegation of the Yoruba Unity Forum, a forum of all Yoruba across party lines, who have put themselves together to protect the interest of Yorubaland in the context of one Nigeria.
“We have come to pay a courtesy call on our Governor and also congratulate him for his second term reelection victory.
“We admire the administration of Governor Makinde. He is an active, forward-looking, vibrant and formidable governor.”
Commenting on the recent activities of Yoruba Nation agitators, Okurounmu added that “our advice to the Yoruba race is to try to buckle our belts and put ourselves in strong position within the context of one Nigeria so that the Yoruba will not lag behind the other people in the country. We can play our role in Nigeria and champion the progress of the nation as a whole.
“The Yoruba Nation agitators are misguided people and what they did was not in the interest of the Yoruba people and a lot of Yoruba leaders are not behind them. So, they have been chastised by the Yoruba leaders.”
Okurounmu equally called on President Bola Tinubu to listen more to the people and less to international financial institutions, saying:
“The nation is going through many challenges right now but I pray that we will get out of it. So, my advice is that the President needs to listen more to the people and listen less to the international financial institutions.
“He should try and pursue the interest of the people as much as possible.”
In his response, Governor Makinde appreciated members of the Forum for the visit and for pursuing the objectives of the Forum, which is about protecting the interest of Yorubaland.
Other members of the Forum in attendance were Senator Anthony Adefuye; Prof. Tunde Adeniran; Prof. Muibi Opeloye; Princess Bisi Sangodoyin and Mr. Emmanuel Adelana.