Ola Ajayi
30 August 2008
The Yoruba Council of Elders, (YCE) has called on President Umaru Yar'Adua to rectify the inherent imbalance in the appointments made so far by his administration as it alleged that the South-West geo-political zone has been largely marginalized.
Also, it threw its weight behind the Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC) led by Dr. Fredrick Fasheun and Mr. Ganiyu Adams saying the association was better organized and more civilized than some political parties whose sole interest was corruption and looting of the treasury.
The mouthpiece of Yorubas rose from its National Executive Council(NEC) meeting yesterday in Ibadan complaining that its sons and daughters in the Nigeria Police, federal civil service and military have been cunningly booted out by Yar'Adua's administration.
YCE, through Senator Suleiman Salawu, Chairman of the council in Kwara State told newsmen after the meeting which attracted many prominent indigenes of the zone that in as much as Yoruba nation is not in the habit of cheating and marginalizing others, it would not accept being cheated or marginalized.
He said, "a lot of our boys have been retired from the military, the Police and the conventional civil service. President Yar'Adua should rectify all the abnormalities without delay. We are not in the habit of cheating and marginalizing others and we won't allow others to cheat or marginalize us.
The elders' council added that it had succeeded in settling all the rancour among the traditional rulers like the feud between the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, political leaders, Afenifere and others adding that peace now reigned in the zone.
On the installation of Yoruba king in Kwara, Senator Salawu explained that the state government should change its attitude and give due recognition to the Yoruba king and should not refer to him as Mogaji Are arguing nothing like that existed in Yoruba rich culture and tradition.
He noted that the Yorubas did not object the installation of Sulu Gambari but the government should also accord due recognition to the other king.
On the arrest of the former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), the YCE said it would be patient until the more details about the issue were unfolded.
However, it warned the commission to desist from selective justice saying that many other politicians were left off the hook because of their loyalty to the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
Specifically, he mentioned the cases of Senator Sola Saraki and the incumbent governor of Kwara State arguing that they were released because they were loyal to the former president.
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