Needless to say that the events in Yorubaland are gradually moving to that direction – Political Violence of the old – Wild Wild West at ‘WWW.WETIE.DIE.’ The irony of such is that the culprits would never be found. Late Chief Bola Ige has not been resolved, Funsho Williams, a PDP Gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, murder resolution is still dangling in the air, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, the current Lagos State Works Commissioner, another gubernatorial aspirant in Osun State, on the platform of AD, life is still in danger. While Dr. Ayo Daramola’s slaughter, from Ijan-Ekiti, another Governorship aspirant, in Ekiti State, is very baffling.
As eminent as Otunba Olu Awotesu could be, most attendees refused to buy most of his statements about the ‘wet e’ rejuvenation, the rays of criticisms about Obasanjo’s administration, from NEPA through Ige’s death, election rigging, grounded Education and the emergence of private Universities, the 1979 hand-over to a civilian government because Obasanjo emptied the treasury, that nothing was left in the National Treasury, that Obasanjo started the national debt and corruption, to the dissolution of the Marketing Board, to most attendees, were distortion of facts. Most attendees believe that, Nigeria should move forward and it will be a better thing for the Yoruba group to join in the progressive move.
Another presentation was made by Mr. Toyin Olanrewaju, Vice President Midland Financial Services; with its headquarters in Bellville, Maryland, a Mortgage Financing Company. In his very brief, straight to the point, and very factual presentation, he encouraged the audience, Nigerians, and Yoruba especially, to do as Romans do when they get to Rome. In most cases, Nigerians based their business decisions on assumptions without actually finding out facts. Midland Financial Services is there to help those in need. He addressed the issue of bad credit, which made him laugh when Nigerians talk to him about that, as an impediment to buying a house or having to do whatever they want to do, and other myths about bad credit. He advised them to check it out first before they write-off their business plans as a result of bad credit. They could also get loans for any property in Nigeria. Bad Credit, according to Mr. Olanrewaju, is NO problem. You might want to contact him at toyinola@midlandfs.com, or at 240-644-9254. According to Toyin, “when it comes to Mortgages, we understand your need.”
As to where the Yoruba should stand in 2007 elections, since it is not logically advisable to field a Presidential candidate for the 2007 Elections, but there is nothing wrong with that in a civilized environment, but could not be morally agreeable in the Nigerian setting of today (2006) any way. Professor Mobolaji Aluko, President, Nigerian Democratic Movement, a foremost political commentator in the Diaspora, an activist, a ‘placard carrier’, from Howard University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Washington D.C., made very brilliant and empirical presentation on 2007 Elections in Nigeria and Yorubaland. One key factor of his presentation is for the South West to be watchful of the Electoral Officers and Police Commissioners posted to the six Yoruba States, as most of them were instrumental in the rigging of 2003 elections in some parts of the country in 2003. He advised the Yoruba States to be aware of the ‘stooges’ planted in those States. The Electoral Officers, according to the records are those that were posted to other States where there were 99% winning votes for PDP in 2003.
Unfortunately, those campaigning for one of the political evils in Nigeria, the Evil Genius, as he love to call himself, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, are the Yorubas. Regrettably the Northern Youth rejects IBB, the Middlebelters are strongly behind the South-South bid for the Presidential candidate, and the rest of them, from the North, are on different paths, why should Yoruba not support South-South. The best shot for the Yoruba, even if Bolaji Aluko disagrees, is for Yoruba to support the South-South bid for 2007 Presidential slot, for the Unity that Egbe Omo Yoruba Organization is yearning for.
If I may reiterate again, this writer DOES NOT support rotational Presidency of the PDP, but for the unity of Nigeria, it is one of the sacrifices all Nigerians have to make. Nigeria Unity, an essential ingredient for progress and TEAM efforts in that country, is a task for all Nigerians all over the world. No one has the monopoly of good candidate. It might solve the Delta’s challenge.
According to Chief Bisi Akande, the former Osun State Governor, in his wisdom, it would be for those Yoruba living outside the country that could bail out the Yorubaland. That is, if those Yoruba in North America and elsewhere outside Nigeria could speak out, it would help the situation in Yorubaland.
