From Abiola Alo, Ado Ekiti
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The leader of a Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere , Senator Ayo Fasanmi, has charged Yoruba leaders to be united and close ranks for the development of the race.
The elder statesman warned that the alleged divisive politics being played by some leaders of the group won’t benefit the Yoruba race.
Pa Fasanmi who cautioned against the consistent criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari by some Afenifere said, “Let me warn some so- called Yoruba groups, to desist from the attempt to draft the Yoruba race into unwelcome national opposition and negative narratives on national events by their destructive criticism of President Buhari .
“It has come to our notice that certain groups have appointed themselves as opposition spokesmen on behalf of the Yoruba nation as if they were elected to do so. This is not the right thing to do.
“How can a group decide never to see anything good in this government? How can a group decide to pit the Yorubas against a government that has its son as number two ?”, he queried.
“President Buhari should be eulogised for fulfilling his campaign promises with particular references to critical sectors like; security, war against corruption and economy.
“He has even done much more particularly, in global politics. Nigeria is no more a pariah and a disdained nation where people think a President can be derogated by few to make him lose election”, he stated.
Fasanmi who posited that President Buhari is strong enough to contest the 2019 presidential election pleaded with Yoruba leaders to stop criticizing the President people oriented policies.
He noted that the Southwest states have benefited immensely from the APC-led government.
The former member of the national assembly described the widespread notion that Buhari is too old and weak to stand re-election next year as mere emotion that has no relevance in the present Nigeria’s political situations.
Fasanmi in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, said some young politicians , who were elected for higher positions of responsibilities have messed up and disappointed the people through unbridled quests for money.
The elderstateman stated that ; “on the issue of his age as being canvassed by some groups, that President Buhari should not re-contest, many elderly people are leaders of their countries, such as United States. Though, Buhari has advanced in age, he is still capable and agile to lead Nigeria.
“’Many younger people have led this country in the past, and yet what is the result?’ To be old as a leader of government business should not be the issue, but whether such person is delivering the expected
services.
“I therefore advised the Yoruba nation to seek for more relevance with the national government for more infrastructural intervention, ‘more so our sons and daughters are placed in critical positions in the Buhari administration”.
The elder statesman commended former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande and Otunba Niyi Adebayo, for their leadership roles in making the Yoruba nation more relevant and acceptable in the Buhari’s administration.
