Kenneth Afor
The Yoruba Welfare Group (YWG) has stated that only monarchs from the South-West region are authorized to speak on behalf of the Yoruba people.
Abdulhakeem Alawuje, President of the YWG, stated this at a rally in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Saturday, in reaction to the Yoruba self-determination rally held by the Emeritus Professor Banji Akinloye-led Ilana Omo Oodua group.
Alawuje warned Akintoye and other political agitators to desist from such activities saying that the Yoruba land will not be a testing ground for any form of criminal activities whatsoever.
He said: “It will be very bad of youths and masses to allow themselves to be used by any individual or a group of emissaries of satans to be disturbing peace of Yoruba land.
“We are issuing a last warning to those behind the political agitation to stop all this rubbish in our land. Yoruba land cannot be a testing ground for any form of criminals act.”
“YWG is calling all traditional rulers in Yoruba land to call these people to order because it will not favour all of us to start mobilizing against ourselves in the same region.
“Professor Banji Akintoye and all his collaborators are looking for nothing than waiting for negotiation between themselves and those who are in charge of leadership in Yoruba land.
“We understand you are trying to justify your assurance given to some of your political paymaster, be told YWG will never allow that to happen, it is better you return back their money, it will not work.”
The group asked the Akintoye-led Ilana Oodua group to be aware that their era in the affair of Yoruba land have expired.
“We used to know professor Banji Akintoye as part of Baba Adebanjo followers, but he could not succeed as followers he came up with his own political agenda, because he wanted to be relevant by all means. He decided to withdraw his loyalty and created his own political business group.
“Stop parading yourself as Yoruba leader, if Kabiesi ikubabayeye Alase Ekejiorisa Alaafin of Oyo is talking, and Ooni of Ife is talking, who else can be talking?”, Alawuje added.
The Yoruba self-determination rally organised by the Ilana Omo Oodua was initially disrupted after operatives of the Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Police Force took over control of Mapo Hall, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the venue of the event.
The rally later held as members of the group later gathered at Mapo Roundabout In Ibadan.
