YCE, Afenifere meet, reconcile
From Iyabo Sotunde, Ibadan
IN what appears a move to strengthen Yoruba unity, the leadership of the pan socio-cultural organisation Afenifere and the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) met yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital with a resolve to forget the acrimonies of the past and work for the socio-political development of the race.
The meeting, held at the residence of the YCE president, Pa Emmanuel Alayande for about three hours, had in attendance representatives of both groups.
While Chief Rueben Fasonranti led the Afenifere members, including former presidential aspirant of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Olu Falae, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Senator Femi Okunrounmu and the group's administrative secretary, Yinka Odumakin, to the parley, the YCE team comprised the vice-president of the group, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), Second Republic Minister, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) and the acting Secretary-General, Dr. Kunle Olajide.
In a statement issued at the end of the meeting jointly signed by Olajide and Odumakin, the two bodies agreed to work together for the progress of the Yoruba race.
"The leadership of Afenifere and YCE met today at the residence of Pa Alayande. At the meeting were important leaders of both organisations and discussions at the parley were critical, frank and friendly. And at the end, it was resolved that the acrimonies of the past be buried for the sake of unity and progress in the race," the leaders stated.
Subsequently, a committee comprising members of the two bodies is to be set up within two weeks to bring proposals on Yoruba agenda to the joint body.
The parley also resolved that the next meeting should be enlarged to include other critical organisations.
The YCE spokesmen who described the meeting as very successful said both sides reviewed the deliberations and agreed that a new chapter be opened in the Yoruba socio-political landscape.
Olajide, while fielding questions from reporters said although the Afenifere leader, Pa Adesanya was absent, the meeting had his blessings as he had earlier discussed with the late Justice Adewale Thompson (rtd) before his death on the need for the two groups to meet.
Olajide, who said the two groups are committed to the same principle, which is the progress and welfare of Yoruba, pointed out that the binding factor is commitment to the socio-political development of Yorubaland.
Said he: "We have been thinking for some time now: we are worried about our race. It is because we noticed a decline in our race that we felt we should come together. We want to halt this decline in the South-West and this body will determine which direction Yoruba will go."
In his own comments at the end of the meeting, Chief Akinjide, who described the parley as a family meeting, said it was designed to enhance the unity of the Yoruba race.
Also in attendance at the meeting were Dr. Tunji Otegbeye, Prof. Toun Ogunseye, Dr. Dejo Raimi, Wunmi Adegbomire and former vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Oyediran among others.`
