Yoruba leader, Prof Banji Akintoye, on Monday in Ibadan said Yoruba “are now slaves” in the country, following the alleged humiliation of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo by a cabal in the Presidency.
Akintoye spoke at the House of Chiefs, Ibadan, venue for the 126th anniversary of the Kiriji War – that engulfed Yorubaland from 1877 to 1893.
“There cannot be a smoke without fire. Although we don’t know where the fire is, we can see the smoke all around us,” Akintoye told reporters.
“Yoruba are in a terrible situation in Nigeria, because what Osinbajo is going through shows that we Yoruba are now like slaves in this country, so we need to dig ourselves out of it.
“All we are hearing is just like a smoke, but we don’t know where the fire came from. So, whatever might be happening to him now has demonstrated that whoever is not part of the people who control the government is only allowed in the government on surveillance. So, the person can be kicked out whenever they like.
“There are people among those controlling the Federal Government who have a lot of heavy questions to answer, but they are protected by the power that be.”
The event was chaired by a renowned historian, Prof Bolanle Awe, while the keynote lecture was delivered by Akintoye. Also in attendance at the meeting were Prof Anthony Kila, Chief Lekan Alabi and Chief Segun Odegbami.
Meanwhile, senior elders of the Yoruba Council of Elders have expressed fears over the adoption of the Ruga settlement programme by some northern states.
Speaking through Col Ade Dansaaki, after their meeting at the Bodija residence of Prof Toun Ogunseye on Monday, the group said, “We are worried about the Ruga settlement which is taking root in some northern states. We are worried that it may be surreptitiously moved to some states in the South.
“Farmers are complaining about the antics of the herdsmen. We appeal to the government to revert to the old farm settlements across the zone. If animal husbandry is established, it should manned by our people, not Fulani. Any cattle trade must be undertaken by our people.”
On the security challenges facing the country, the elders commended the six South-West governors for making moves to tackle kidnapping and banditry and other criminal activities in the zone.
