Gbenga Olarinoye
9 July 2009
The Ooni Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade has expressed concern over the activities of the various Yoruba socio-cultural groups in the country, describing their actions as working at cross purposes. In a statement yesterday, the monarch stated that the groups though expected to be apolitical have become partisans with their activities.
His words: "These groups are supposed to be apolitical. Partisan politics must not be at the forefront of their will power to find solution to the problems of the Yoruba. While every Yoruba man, woman and child have the constitutional rights to hold on to any political persuasion of his choice, concerted efforts, and all resources must be pulled together for the general benefit and the general advantage of our people," he added.
Oba Sijuwade stated that the Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders, the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Odua Progressives and other Yoruba interest groups must not see one another as enemies or bodies absolutely working independent of one another.
Also in his message, the Osun state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola stressed the importance of elders in any society saying that elders have a lot to contribute to the development of future generations.
He charged them not to listen to false rumours being peddled by those he described as agents of destabilisation with the sole aim of smearing the image of the state.
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