Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, the supreme organization of the Yoruba self-determination struggle, is rumored to hold a congress on Tuesday, November 1 in Ibadan. According to Professor Banji Akintoye, the movement’s head, he did not authorize this congress (today).
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress’s presidential candidate, was charged by Akintoye with employing some members of the self-determination movement against the movement in order to advance his presidential ambitions.
The IOO leader, who made this claim in a statement on Monday, claimed he had to do this to refute Funmi Soyemi’s assertion that a world congress of Ilana Omo Oodua will take place tomorrow in Ibadan. Soyemi is the departing Chairman of the Ilana Interim Management Committee of the organization.
Akintoye said, “The people planning the congress are few agents of Nigerian politicians within the struggle. Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, is currently recruiting some power-seeking individuals within the self-determination struggle to either discredit me or destroy the movement completely.
“I am sending out this short message to all Yoruba people worldwide that I did not authorise any meeting of Ilana Omo Oodua to be held tomorrow in Ibadan, Oyo State. Those behind the gathering are a few people working for Nigerian politicians who are determined to discredit our noble struggle.
“I hereby dissociate myself from such a gathering and I want the whole world to know the meeting is illegal, unauthorised, and unknown to Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide. Thus, whatever resolutions are reached at the meeting are null and void.”
We Will Make Sure Sunday Igboho Is Not Extradicted To Nigeria – Akintoye
The statement further went on to note that, “Also, Bola Tinubu has threatened to destroy Ilana Omo Oodua and other serious self-determination organisations in Yorubaland because we told him that he is merely after his personal interest and not the interest of the Yoruba people.
“As a result, I implore you to disregard all of his agents within our system and become more focused on our struggle for freedom and liberation.”
When contacted for reaction, the Chief Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, could not immediately confirm if the presidential candidate is scheduled to be at the congress of Ilana Omo Oodua in Ibadan on Tuesday (today).
He said, “The itinerary of Asiwaju that I have for tomorrow is the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I cannot confirm if he is attending the World Congress of Ilana Omo Oodua tomorrow at Ibadan.”
Top Yoruba Group, Ilana Omo Oodua Gives Update On Sunday Igboho’s Case In Benin Republic
When asked to respond to Akintoye’s claim that Tinubu is attempting to undermine the Yoruba self-determination struggle by exploiting some movement participants, Keyamo said that the claim was completely unfounded.
He also questioned who chose Prof. Akintoye to represent the Yoruba people.
“Are the Yoruba a group of people who arrogate to themselves the leadership status? When did the Yoruba gather to elect some of these characters?
“I speak authoritatively because I am also Yoruba and I have a right to be Afenifere with any Yoruba group. That is because my mother is a full-blooded Yoruba woman, a princess of the throne in Ilaro. I am an Egbado man myself. My first cousin is the Olu of Ilaro. I can confidently claim to be part of Afenifere.
Yoruba Nation: Akintoye Opens Up On Why He Left Nigeria For Benin Republic
“All I am trying to tell you is that the Yoruba have not appointed any of such characters to speak on behalf of the Yoruba race,” he said.
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.