A constitutional lawyer and Mayegun Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland, Dr Kayode Ajulo has called on Yoruba stakeholders to hold a strategic conference over the presidential ambitions of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Though, Osinbajo has not made his intentions known, Tinubu on the other hand has made his ambition public.
Ajulo said the conference, intended to streamline the ambitions of both men, would be of interest to the southwest and the betterment of the nation at large towards the 2023 presidential election.
He said if the Yorubaland failed to this, It would be unfortunate, adding it would make the southwest miss the opportunity to produce the next president of the country.
Ajulo, while reacting to recent political developments in the region, said crisis might erupt between the two Yoruba sons that might serve as a clog in the wheel of the southwest in producing the next president.
He stated that it was imperative now for Yoruba stakeholders, irrespective of political and religious affiliation, to come together to discuss the future of the region as the 2023 presidential election draws closer.
Ajulo, waxing philosophical, stated that “when history is asleep, it is memory that wakes it up, and when memory itself falls into a stupor, we invoke remembrance to kick it into active consciousness.”
He stated: “It is exactly 60 years that Yoruba witnessed the ugly crisis between two great Yoruba illustrious sons on the altar of tussle for political leadership. The late sage and former premier of the Western Region, Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo and one of his foremost followers and last premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola due to clash of interests.
“I can tell that the same scenario is gradually playing out between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his foremost loyalist, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. It is no news that these two men do not have unfriendly feelings towards each other but a lot of their followers and lackeys have started throwing bricks of words across walls, and that is certainly an invitation to crisis,” Ajulo said.
The former National Secretary of the Labour Party said it will be bad for the region to experience the same crisis that rocked the southwest political space in 1962, noting that the opportunity of the region to produce the next president is clear and only internal crisis can abort it.
“The truth is late S. L Akintola, an orator, a preacher, a teacher at the Baptist Mission, the legal adviser of the defunct Action Group after the demise of Balogun Bode Thomas, was the “Starboy” and the pan-Nigeria face of Chief Awolowo’s group and a lot of political pundits at that time and at present agreed that Akintola, being in a more favoured position by providence could have seen more than his leader and same informed his stance at that time.
“By parity of reason, one cannot deny the fact that Prof. Osinbajo, an astute orator, an inspiring harmony of brawn and brains is the “Starboy” and the most outstanding federal face of Asiwaju’s group. Undoubtedly, Osinbajo has represented this government at different fora and definitely would have seen more than his leader. It is a big plus that he is part of the government at the apex level.
“Asiwaju has done well for his followers and people, and I personally acknowledge that. But I strongly believe that it will further glorify Asiwaju’s leadership to support the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the next President,” Ajulo stated.
The civil rights activist noted that the same crisis also rocked both the northern and eastern regions of the country in the 60’s, between Sir. Tafawa Balewa and Sir. Ahmadu Bello, and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dr. Michael Okpara respectively.
He said the leaders of these two regions effectively handled the differences in the interest of their regions and the nation at large.
“In respond to the recent colloquialism, brickbats and ruptured prosodies of hire writers and opinion leaders, the words of a renowned author is quite pungent in the circumstance.
“Thunder Never Strikes the same Place Twice”. Yoruba leaders must put their personal differences aside and hold a Conference of Yoruba Stakeholders like President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alaafin of Oyo, Ọọni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Awujale of Ijebu, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi,, Alake of Egba, Iba Gani Adams, Bishop Gbonigi, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Deji of Akure, Olugbon of Oke Igbon, Baba Bisi Akande, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, present and past Governors in Yorubaland and other stakeholders who have the southwest interest at heart to discuss the way forward,” Ajulo said.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
