The Asia chapter of the Oodua Progressives Union (OPU)at the weekend charged the southwest governors, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to focus more on the unity of the Yoruba race and shun politics of bitterness.
The Yoruba Diaspora group gave the charge on Sunday during the maiden
edition of the Asia Summit held via
online Webinar, with over 900 participants present from all over the world.
The summit was held for more than three hours, with
Prof. Oladele Orimoogunje, a Professor of African Studies, Dept. of Linguistics,
African and Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, as the Guest Lecturer,
just as many other social, economic and
political analysts in were also in attendance.
Aareonakakanfo
of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, who is also the global convener of
OPU, said the Summit remains the most viable forum for proper discourse,
analysis, saying the group had a record of using the outcome of the summit to
set a new policy and direction for the southwest.
He said the present situation in the country can only
be salvaged if the southwest governors lay more emphasis on the unity of the
entire race rather than politics and power wrestle.
"History has shown that the Yoruba have the best
in terms of approach to issues and strategy for achieving the best. We are very
articulate in decision-making, and our greatest strength is in being united.
"As good as we are as a race, our greatest undoing
is lack of unity in Yorubaland. And we have also lost the integrity test as it
was in the past. But the buck stops at the desk of our leaders. If the southwest
governors could shun politics of bitterness, unite and drive the vision of the
region, I am very sure the Yoruba race will definitely be the leading race in the
world.
Iba Adams, however, said the OPU will continue to seek the unity of the race, adding that the Asia summit would come up with positive
ideas that would bring about prosperity and solutions to most of the problems
we are faced within the southwest.
"The summit was in line with the original plan of
our organization.
The Asia summit
of today is also a reflection of our desire to ensure the best for all Yoruba
sons and daughters across the globe"
"Today's summit will definitely open a window of opportunities for us
to discuss pertinent issues bordering on the
liberation of our race. It will further help us to chart a new course for our
organization"
Meanwhile, the guest lecturer, in his lecture titled
"The Yorùbá political Endeavours: Quest for Unity and Integrity, said
Yoruba must advance the cause of instilling the culture of unity and integrity
in whatever they do.
He noted, however, that the present crop of people,
especially, the politicians have lost the intrinsic value of integrity.
"With great value of integrity, we can have unity,
peace, and tranquility in Yorubaland. We have lost the value of respect to our elders because we have
lost touch with our culture and
tradition in Yorubaland"
"Our politicians today have never subscribed to
the value of integrity. In the past, people are elected into political offices
because of their integrity. But today, politics is not about integrity, but it
is about bargaining.
"The Yoruba have lost the value of integrity, but we need to change the bad narrative. So that we can regain the glory of the past".
Earlier in his opening remarks, OPU Asia
Coordinator, Otunba Ogunbiyi Olamilekan Hamza, applauded the effort of the OPU global convener, Iba Gani Adams for
lifting the spirit of the Yoruba sons and daughters abroad. He said the maiden
edition of the OPU Asia Summit would broker peace, and unity and also enhance
the knowledge of all members and participants.
"OPU is very lucky and fortunate to have our
leader, and convener, Iba Gani Abiodun
Ige Adams as the global convener and rallying point of the OPU agenda. Aare's
vision is what kept our hope alive. Today, OPU is in 96 countries, we will
continue to play our roles in ensuring that the Yoruba race remains the best in
the world", he said
In his closing remarks, the OPU Worldwide Deputy
Secretary-General, Alhaji Luqman Adedire who is also the Secretary-General OPU
Asia Chapter, said the Asia Chapter of the OPU had succeeded in using the
Summit to provide the best possible solution to the myriad of problems in
Yorubaland, adding that the maiden edition of the Summit would go down in
history as one of the most successful outings in the continent.
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