Lack of unity among the Yoruba ethnic group and poor leadership have been identified to be the clog in the way of achieving Yoruba Nation.
Dr Ayobami Lam-Adesina, the first son of the former governor of Oyo State, late Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, who made this known in Ibadan in a radio programme wondered how Yoruba people of different states, who could not manage an institution together can manage a region.
He expressed doubt over the sustainability of the proposed Yoruba Nation, hinging his argument on the inability of two states in the geopolitical zone to efficiently manage the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) together.
Lam-Adesina said it was a shameful thing for the two Yoruba-speaking states of Oyo and Osun not to be able to manage the institution together, adding that he felt embarrassed when he saw his compatriots jubilating when the two states stopped managing the affairs of LAUTECH together.
He said, “It was a development that made me sad. When my late dad was the governor of Oyo State and Papa Bisi Akande was in the same position in Osun, nobody heard of any fight or uproar over how the university was being run or funded. These were two great statemen, these were two great sons of Yorubaland, these were two great followers of Obafemi Awolowo. They were focused on how to maintain the heritage of the Yoruba nation. I can say it here that almost immediately after these two great men stopped being governors of the states, crisis of management erupted in LAUTECH. At the end of the day, the two states stopped running the institution together”.
“This is a very bad omen. Those agitating for the emergence of Yoruba Nation need to tread softly and study the situation on ground. The present crop of leaders we have may not be able to sustain the proposed nation. Yes, if we move together to form a nation, it will be okay but then, our great leaders, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bola Ige and others did so well within the same Nigerian nation. So, why can’t those of us in this generation survive in Nigeria?”
Speaking on the nation’s economic crisis and insecurity, he said, “We should not put all the blame on the table of President Muhammadu Buhari. The governors, the local government chairmen should all take meaningful responsibility. I am more bothered about our governors in the Southwest. When my late dad, and others were in power, they ensured that many moribund industries under O’dua Investment Company Limited like Exide (that used to produce vehicle batteries) and others were resuscitated to provide employment for our youths”.
“Nothing like that is happening today. Our youth are there roaming the streets after spending years to get educated. And everybody is now blaming Buhari. What is the major assignment given to our governors? Our governors in the Southwest are responsible for the wellbeing of the Yoruba people. They ought to protect our heritage. I have firm belief that we must not forget our source, we must go back to the ideologies of late Awolowo”, he explained.
