Yoruba Youths have reaffirmed that 2023 is for yoruba Presidency, calling the attention of the Northern Nigeria to the tenures of Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Abdulsalami Abubakar years of military rule in Nigeria.

The youths under the aegis of the Grand Council of Yoruba Youths congratulated 2021 Yoruba National Day Awards’ Winners, Ooni of Ife, and hailed Rasheed Ladoja at 77, Buba Marwa at 68, Sherifat Aregbesola at 61; Bayo Adelabu at 51, and Taoheed Adedoja on their birthdays while mourning Sunny Ade’s wife.

The Yoruba youths in a statement signed by the group’s President General, Comrade AWA Bamiji , informed the Northern Governors’ Forum led by the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Simeon Lalong, “that in 2007 and 2015, it was echoed even to the hearing of the unborn generation that the Rotational Presidency from the North to the South and vice versa was not in the Nigerian Constitution but rather a gentleman agrement to give peace a chance across the Regions based on our past and bitter experience of the June 12 crisis and to take care of the palpable fear of the minority.

“That is why Late President Umaru Musa Yar’dua from Katsina State in the Northwest took over from President Olusegun Obasanjo from Ogun State, Southwest Region”, the Yoruba youths said.

The rest of the statement reads:

“Man proposes but God disposes”, the former answered the call of Almighty God after his successful 2 years of sojourn in Power and since the Presidential or Governorship ticket is joint, his Vice, Goodluck Jonathan successfully completed the remaining 2 years in office without any form of rancour.

It’s understandable that the influential People across the Country most especially from the Northern Part conceded another 4 year tenure to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s favour between 2011 to 2015 because being in Power stood him at a better advantage, therefore disrupted the laid down arrangement.

In 2015, the Power went back to the North, same Katsina State, but this time around, it was Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) but now President Muhammadu Buhari, with every Opposition from other Regions fizzled out during the Primary election.

With the new position of the Northern Governors’ Forum, it is an attempt to use the excuse that former President Jonathan benefited majorly their supposed allocated 2 terms in Power which one of it they willingly gave him for their own selfish reason then and make sure they use the same tactic of being in power again to retain it for 2 terms, 2023 – 2031 in Office.

We strongly think, it is high time we called their attention to the fact that if this happens, it means, adding to the insultive years of long military rule in Nigeria since 1960 independence till 1999, which the Civilian Rule is now trying to make restitution for within the democratic years based on this gentleman agrement, just to pacify and not to compesate the South which was marginalised and traumatised 80% during the long period of military rule that benefited the Northern Region massively. The North is asking for compensation of lost 4 years within the democratic rule to the South without recourse to the era of long military rule. Since they said Rotational Presidency is unconstitutional, therefore, there is no point in pegging the calculation from 1999 till date, we must address the problem as Nigeria which took off October 1, 1960, to know where the problem of this authoritative cheating lies since we woke up as Nigeria in 1960.

If some of the Northern Governors had geniunely expressed their position in support of power shift to the South come 2023 as claimed in their Communique, they won’t be part of yesterday’s resolution in Kaduna State. We understand that Politics is about interest and we don’t blame them for gladly scheming for the head of a Cow ahead 2023 but it is very important the Rotational Presidency is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution as soon as possible in the interest of peace and unity. We can’t avoid to witness another major Political crisis like June 12. “Prevention is better than cure so they say.

On the issue of advocacy for the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) by the States and total ban on open grazing system within the Southern Part just to avoid further loss of lives and Properties, we believe that much touted Restructuring or Regional System of Government will be the best solution to this lingering crises and many more to follow

We therefore call on Seccessionists to see the latest move by the Northern Governors as an “Eye Opener” which has interpreted their efforts and campaign for balkanization of Nigeria as aiding and aibeting the Northern Oligarchy to remain in power as long as they choose.

As the Students of History and Political Science, we are not surprised at all about this latest development because Politics all over the World is self – seeking either personally or Group or Community and this is the reason why the Constitution is in place to check the excesses of any party.

We started our collective advocacy “2023 Yoruba Presidency: Non – Negotiable” in prepration for these intellectual fireworks because we knew it was going to be “No Retreat, No Surrender” and we therefore say, Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta!

We congratulate all the 2021 Yoruba National Day Odu’a Awardees for making us proud for the past 20 years of our existence as well Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on the success of 2021 Olojo festival and we say, Oju a ma r’odun o.

As a mark of honour, we plan to roll out the list of Awardees and the well researched names of their Odu’a Awards in our new year message by the end of year 2021 to welcome the new year and bid 2021 farewell.

We couldn’t do otherwise than to say Many Happy Returns to the following Quintessential men and women of the People, the Grassroot Politicians and Leaders of all seasons, Senator Rasheed Ladoja @ 77; Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) @ 68; Chief Bayo Adelabu @ 51 and our dear mother of the Revolutionary Empire of Oranmiyan Worldwide and a Woman of virtues behind the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola chain of Political successes, Her Excellency, Alhaji Sherifat Aregbesola.

We congratulate 2007 Oyo State Action Congress (AC) Governorship Candidate, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, on his double appointments in Bayelsa State which has now turned him to “Saka Akomeji”, Saka Husband of 2 Wives”. The former Minister of Sports and Special Duties was recently appointed as the Chairman, Governing Council, Federal College of Education, Obudu, Cross River State by the Federal Government, only for the State Government, to immediately discover his educational potential as globally renowned academic and Scholar and appoint him as the Pioneer Director General of the newly constructed Teachers’ Continuous Training Institute (TCTI), Biase, Biase Local Government, Cross River State, which is a World Class facility to take care of Teacher needs of African Countries according to Governor Ben Ayade.

We mourn a great soul, a Philanthrophist and Wife of the Juju Music Star, King Sunny Ade, Hon Risikat Adegeye Sunny Ade, former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly between 2007 – 2011. May God Almighty grant your soul sweet repose.

Comrade AWA Bamiji
Aare Apapo (President – General)
Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths)