August 12, 2024.
By Samuel Ogunsona
A prominent Yoruba socio-cultural group, The Conscience of Yoruba Nation, has pledged to safeguard the administration of President Bola Tinubu from internal and external saboteurs.
The group, an affiliate of prestigious Afenifere organization, promise to resist any attempts to undermine the government of the democratically elected President.
This was contained in a statement signed by the convener, Abagun Kole Omololu, the group uses the opportunity to plead with the organizers of the nationwide hunger protests to foil the demonstration, citing that it has been hijacked by political actors to spark violence the country just to destroy the present administration.
Omololu in his statement urge security agencies in the country to investigate “all incidents of violence duly; unearth the masterminds of violent acts and serve them justice for the right to a peaceful protest does not extend to fomenting any form of violence or disruption of public order in any way.”
“The call for military intervention and the hoisting of a foreign flag by some elements in some cities in the North eventually confirmed our fear and suspicion that certain rogue political actors had planned to take advantage of the protests to destabilise a democratically elected government and plunge Nigeria into intractable internal conflicts. But that plan failed!
He said, “We have never promoted rebellion against a constitutional regime, and we will never attempt to sponsor such for any reason.
“For the record, the Yoruba, an ethnic nationality of about 50 million, paid heavily for the sustenance of this federation from the unjust imprisonment of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the needless shedding of the blood of Chief S.L. Akintola, the annulment of the mandate, unfair incarceration and unexplained death of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the winner of the 1993 presidential election and the thousands of our people killed both in war and by cruel herdsmen.
“We also commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for protecting Nigerians’ right to assemble freely and associate with other persons as guaranteed by Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) before, during and after the protests. This, again, attests to President Tinubu’s utmost respect for the core ethos and principles of constitutional democracy.
“We further commend the security agencies’ professional conduct in discharging their duties during the national protest. We, particularly, note their timely response to allegations of use of excessive force and payment of compensation to the family of the individual killed by stray bullets.
“We, therefore, commiserate with families who lost their loved ones in the few unfortunate incidents of violence in some parts of the federation. We pray God Almighty will comfort them all. We also sympathise with those who lost their properties. May God replenish them.
“At the inception, the Conscience of Yoruba Nation alongside Afenifere called for restraints. Our position was premised on believing that public grievances had been duly registered, clearly heard and loudly vented. We pleaded with the conveners and mobilisers of the nationwide protests to call off the protest to foil the plan of rogue political actors to use it to incite violence.
“Little did we know then that while our people genuinely sought to exercise their rights peacefully, some wanted to exploit the protest for mischief. The call for military intervention and the hoisting of a foreign flag by some elements in some cities in the North eventually confirmed our fear and suspicion that certain rogue political actors had planned to take advantage of the protests to destabilise a democratically elected government and plunge Nigeria into intractable internal conflicts. But that plan failed!
“While the Yoruba have no objection to any part of Nigeria seeking secession or desire to be ruled by the military and pledge allegiance to any foreign power, we advise them to reserve their right to do so till when they opt out of Nigeria. The Yoruba will decide how we choose to be governed in our independent nation if need be.” He said
