A community leader in the Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo Odunowo, has advised the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, to give room to other prominent Yoruba sons and daughters to become members.
Odunowo said Afenifere was the most important and recognised amongst all the other groups championing the interest of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria before and after independence from the British.
The community leader stated this on Friday when members of the Afenifere in Ikenne and Odogbolu Local Government Areas paid him a courtesy visit in his country home in Imoru- Ijebu in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state.
He advised the members to retrace their steps backwards towards how the founding fathers of Afenifere handled the group in such impressive ways that all other ethnic nationality groups became envious of the achievements they recorded within a very short time.
Odunowo also advised the Afenifere members to take urgent steps to ensure that the Yoruba language does not become extinct, expressing disgust at the current situation whereby the Yoruba language is categorised as a vernacular in schools across Yorubaland.
He said his travelling experience to some foreign countries like China, Germany, Saudi Arabia had shown that these countries would not joke with their local and indigenous languages.
“If you are a visitor, you will have to learn how to communicate in their languages and transact businesses over there in their own local ways. Why can we learn from them?” he said.
The community leader, however, commended the group for the recognition it has given to him by paying him a courtesy visit, among his peers.
He further commended the late Yoruba Leader and former Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his followers in the Afenifere for their foresight in education and creation of different avenues to generate funds for the region till date and which has been the envy of other parts of Nigeria.
Otunba Odunowo furthered commended past leaders of Afenifere such as late Pa Michael Ajasin, Chief Bisi Onabanjo, Chief Bola Ige and others, who were part of the founding members of the group, saying, “Their legacies remain unforgettable in the history of the region.”
He therefore advised the visiting group to emulate the past Afenifere leaders in their handling of the group’s affairs, adding that they should get involved in partisan politics to enable them to fight for Local Government autonomy, among others.
He noted that local government, being the closest to the people, it will be easier for them to liaise with other socio-cultural groups like Arewa Consultative Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other ethnic nationality groups.
Odunowo added, “If they come together, they will be able to achieve their goals like resource control, awareness and political consciousness, formation of ideology and they will be able to jointly present these to the Senate and House of Representatives, all of us should come together to achieve all.
“Joining hands together with other groups in the country will speed up the process by the Federal Government to hands off the control of local governments and grant local government autonomy.
“If there is local government autonomy, if the local government Chairman and his Exco are not working, they will be made accountable to the people.”
He also lamented that nowadays not much is heard from the Afenifere, urging the group to organise seminars and create awareness on political consciousness, formulation of ideology, adding, “by hearing the voice of Afenifere in all ways and everytime like commendation, constructive criticisms and advice on issues concerning the state of the nation.”
He further commended the Ogun State Government for granting the traditional religion worshipers in the state an ISESE Day recently and advised the Afenifere to join the hands with the state government to achieve what the founding fathers of the group achieved during their time in the past.
Odunowo also enjoined the Afenifere to involve itself in the current governance with sincerity of mind in order to move the state forward by encouraging the upcoming youths to join them in making the group great like it was during the time of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other past Yoruba leaders.
Afenifere members on the delegation during the courtesy visit to Otunba Odunowo included
Chief Ebenezer Ogunlana; Mrs. Funmilayo Soyewo; Prince F. Adesanya; and Princess Olubunmi Olujobi.
Other members of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group who were also on the delegation were Mrs. Omowunmi Olawale; Madam Ajani Olabisi; Mr. Adeleke Sosan; Mrs. Oladipupo Olayemi; Mr. Adesina Francis Sofuye; Mr. Adedoyin Orelaja and Mr. Oluwole Adelowo.