Group seeks unity of Yoruba in diaspora

A coalition of groups in the Diaspora, Yoruba One Voice (YOV), said there is need for all the ethnic nationality’s sons and daughters in the Diaspora to unite for its political and economic liberation in Nigeria.

The group, in a statement by its Director of Communication, Comrade Zacheaus Somorin, said the body was launched to promote the interest of the race at a global stage.

He stated that the new group had embarked on a sensitisation process to foster
unity and peace among the existing Yoruba groups abroad, Daily Times gathered.

Canada-based Somorin insisted that the coalition became imperative to bring all Yoruba professionals in many parts of the world together in order to provide
a unified front for the progress of the nationality.

He pointed out that within the first few weeks of its existence, the new group has an existing structure in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Africa, Asia, South America, North America and Australia, and is presently working to extend its frontiers to other countries.

He also affirmed the progress of the group, saying: “Yoruba One Voice was founded to engage various progressive groups, within the confines of the law, in ensuring that the people of the South West do not suffer continued economic isolation, being trampled upon and subjugated; adding that a sustained agitation for the Yorubas economic liberation is urgent and critically fundamental at this point in time.”

“Yoruba One Voice is a convergent point and one big umbrella, created for charting a new course for a better future for the race back home in Nigeria.

“The group is not an organisation, but a formidable coalition of every Yoruba organisation in the diaspora that believes in solidifying our unity. The coalition
intends to intervene and engage the Yoruba people at home in terms of governance, socio-economic justice and fairness for all.”

Somorin, however, lamented the leadership problem in Nigeria, saying the long years of misrule in the country remains the problem of the country “Over the years, it is sad that Nigeria’s leadership deficit has been intractably inefficient, tribal and
palpably hopeless; hence the need for intervention in terms of policy direction, accountability by Yoruba intellectuals abroad who have garnered global exposure and education towards having a livable Yoruba nation.

‘’In recent times, there have been centripetal and centrifugal forces calling for the geographical or constitutional laceration of the Nigerian state.

“These have been motivated by the intractable disillusionment that permeates the nation-state called Nigeria,” he said.

YOV also admitted that many of the Yoruba youths abroad have been forced to stay and overstay abroad due to lack of opportunities at home, stressing that most jobs have been taken over by non Yorubas.

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“The agitation has become urgent based on the fact that most resources being generated in the South West are taken to the centre – Abuja, as structurally facilitated by arrogant defiance to true fiscal federalism. The South West contributes 90 per cent of the country’s non-oil revenue to the federation
account.”

Historically, the South West had the first television station in Africa, first university, among other firsts.

But as things are, Yoruba One Voice is of the opinion that Yoruba’s glory is being trampled upon based on how Nigeria is presently structured politically.