Akintoye Removes Self As Leader Of Newly Unveiled Yoruba Group

Prof. Banji Akintoye has rejected the leadership role of the newly unveil YWA.

News Rain Nigeria reports that Prof. Banji Akintoye on Saturday was said to have willingly rejected the leadership offer of the newly unveiled Yoruba self-determination group, known as the Yoruba World Assembly.

Unveiling the birth of the Yoruba World Assembly, at a Press Conference that was held at the Oyo State NUJ Press Center Iyaganku Ibadan, Dr. Tayo Ayorinde, on Saturday,  declared the birth of a new conglomerate of Yoruba self-determination groups, the Yoruba World Assembly.

Akintoye Removes Self As Leader Of Newly Unveiled Yoruba Group

Also, in his brief at the Conference, the chief convener and secretary-general of the group, Comrade Victor Taiwo explained that the emergence of the group was informed by “the failure of previous attempts at the emancipation and security of Yoruba land.”

Taiwo said, For all we know, Nigeria is witnessing the twilight of her existence with the fast decimation of all the instruments and structures of governance into a comatose state. Most especially among the myriad of evils bedeviling the citizens of this country is the insecurity to lives and property where human life can be likened to a dozen for kobo. No more sanctity for lives. The worst human degradation spree is the herdsmen’s attacks on the people and their transgressions on the peoples’ lands across the country.

“Now, looking at the state of helplessness the Yorubas have found themselves for some time now, we quickly did an analysis of our state and we discovered our bane to be the lack of unity among the various organizations and as well as lack of controlling or coordinating leadership. Thus we need a forum for the convergence of all progressive and good-intentioned groups for united and central coordination under credible leadership.

Dr. Tayo Ayorinde who is the interim chairman of the group’s governing council maintained that the group will not be built around individuals or splinter associations noting that “it is an association for the upliftment of our youths and betterment of the Yorubas.”

He said, it’s Unfortunate, some things have happened in the past. We have noticed that we Yorubas are not united, we want to make sure that we call everybody to talk together. I belong to the National Development Summit and you will see us talking with one voice but this is not the case with the Yorubas but we have decided that this has to change. We don’t want to be part of a regime that is retrogressive anymore.

Dr. Tayo while briefing journalists on the position of Professor Banji Akintoye as the ‘leader of the Yorubas’ stressed that the Professor removed himself from the group and as a result of this he stands removed.

Tayo noted that Prof. Banji Akintoye has let down over 100 associations that selected him as the leader of the Yoruba nation by his action, but maintained that the group maintained its stand on  Prof. Banji stand.