BEVERLY HILLS, January 31, (THEWILL) – In an apparent realignment of forces to promote the Southwest interest, erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; ex-Minister of state for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; and a former presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe; on Monday met behind closed doors with prominent elders of the zone.
Congregating under the umbrella of Yoruba Patriots Movement, YPM, they held a four-hour meeting at 12 Oladosu Oladipo street, New Bodija, Ibadan, where a committee that would draw a blueprint for the framework on the way forward for the zone was inaugurated.
Also at the meeting were the National Coordinator of YPM, Oladosu Ladapo, a former Defence Minister, Kayode Olatokunbo, a former deputy governor of Osun State, Fatai Akinbade, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Prof. Soji Adejumo, Wole Oyelese, Saka Balogun and Dotun Oyelade.
The newly inaugurated committee has Senator Obanikoro, Dimeji Bankole, Professor Adesoji, Adetokunbo and Dr Bayo Oriire as members.
Addressing reporters at the end of the gathering, National Coordinator of YPM, Chief Oladosu Oladipo said it would not be proper to divulge all that was discussed at the meeting to the public, but revealed that the group is focused on the unity of Yoruba nations in the march to the 2019 general elections and beyond.
He said, “We are going to align with other regions, other political groups; sell our ideas and agenda to them and let them key into it. When that is done, then we can form a reasonable and standard alliance. But let charity begin at home. When it begins, definitely to move forward will not be a headache.
“We also agreed that we need to reach out to more politicians, non-politicians, captains of industries, our people in the academics and others so that we will be able to galvanise ideas on how to move the Yoruba nation forward in all spheres.”
Oladipo continued that the meeting looked into various measures to be taken in order to reposition the failing economy of the South-West through an economic summit.
His words, “We have a lot to do if we want to survive as a nation. Yorubas have continued to go down the drain from successive governments. And I am sure all of us knew that. We are not concerned about who does what and gets what.
“There will also be a meeting in the political aspect with political leaders, current governors, past governors and plan the next stakeholders summit. It will be a comprehensive event that will help set up a comprehensive agenda. We will also embark on extensive consultation. Everybody must be brought on board.
“We need to reach out to galvanise ideas on how to move Yoruba nation forward.
“We have known our problem and have dissect the extent of its negativity on our culture and moral values. We never knew Yoruba’s problem is so much to that extent until today when we diagnosed it.
“Dimeji Bankole and Musiliu Obanikoro were very helpful in today’s meeting to our satisfaction. They really gave us the extent of the rot and some of us were educated by their contributions,” Oladipo disclosed.
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