They advocated structural changes in the constitution of the Nigerian nation rather than the clamour for personality change at the helm of affairs in the country.
The leaders, including various groups across the Yoruba nation, which comprise the Afenifere, Yoruba Self Determinants Group, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other Yoruba leaders across the South-West states, restated their commitment to the realisation of an indivisible and united Nigeria.
The leaders stated this in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a post national conference summit with the theme: “The National Conference, 2015 Elections and the Yoruba Nation.’’
According to the leaders, the reports and recommendations of the national conference remained a vital issue in determining and restructuring the nation towards directing the country to the path of development.
Speaking during the summit, Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, commended the convener of the summit, the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, for taking the initiative in reviewing the outcome of the conference, saying it would help to free the Yoruba race from bastardisation from some elements in the region.
Adebanjo reiterated the commitment of the Afenifere group in supporting the re- election of President Goodluck Jonathan over the convocation of the national conference and his determination to implement the report of the conference, assuring that the implementation of the report would put an end to corruption and corrupt practices in the Nigerian system.
The Afenifere chieftain specifically said voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate will not only spell doom for the country but will be “a mistake Nigeria cannot afford.”
Also speaking, the founder and leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Dr Frederick Fasehun, said the national conference had served as a major landmark in the history of the country and urged President Jonathan not to shy away from the implementation of the confab reports.
He said: “As a leader of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), we have openly identified with Jonathan in this presidential election because we do not want the Buhari experience again.
‘‘Some people said they are born to rule but we want to let them understand that Yoruba people are born to lead and guide to the right path.
“Some people are showing Buhari as the guiding light but they don’t know what Buhari is. Four more years of Jonathan is acceptable than eight years of nightmare under Buhari because we have tested what democracy is and we can differentiate from a dictatorial government.
‘‘For some, they are not only born to rule but also born to steal. For now Jonathan is the only good thing available to Nigeria and I come out to say boldly that it is either Jonathan or nothing,” he said.
The coordinator of OPC, Chief Gani Adams, urged the people of the South-West to support Jonathan’s re-election, saying failure to support him would lead to throwing of the national conference into the dust bin.
Another speaker , Kola Are of Yoruba Self Determinant Group, urged the people of the region to collect their PVCs and vote for Jonathan during the election.
The state governor, Dr Mimiko said the willingness of President Jonathan to implement the report of the confab and the development witnessed in the South-West regions were enough reasons to support his re election.
“The idea of President Jonathan allowing Nigerians to discuss is, therefore, a right step in the right direction. The platform afforded Nigerians the opportunity to dialogue and through consensus, evolved a workable agreement that is geared towards the self-expression of its socially and culturally diverse peoples within a nation-state that reflects their desires,” the governor said.
He said: “For these reasons, in a rational and reasonable society like ours, I don’t expect anything less than the enthusiasm in wanting to implement the report.
“I believe that the president, who set up the conference, wanted a transformed Nigeria and in his closing remarks at the end of the national conference, he made it clear that the people of Nigeria have great roles to play in implementing the report.”
“This Summit is crucial as we prepare for the general elections. The decisions reached today will no doubt go a long way in showing our people the platforms and individuals that can ensure the implementation of the CONFAB”
However at the end of the summit the leaders made their resolve known through a communiqué read by the Chairman of the summit, Chief Ayo Adebanjo as follows : that we resolve therefore to fully back and work for the re election of. President Goodluck Jonathan in the Presidential election as only this would guarantee the implementation of the CONFAB recommendations.
“That the Yotiba nation is going to work assiduously to ensure that the confab recommendations get translated to concrete realities
“That Mr. President be commended for setting a technical committee composed of outstanding statesmen and technocrat to fashion out modalities and strategies for the implementation of the confab.
“That other profound recommendations of the Confab particularly those that touch on devolution of powers, creation of state and community police services; making prison service a concurrent matter; allowing each state to have its constitution ; decentralisation of the powers over the establishment and management of railways, sea ports, airports and development of solid minerals are central to the core interest of yoruba.”
The communique was however signed leaders of Yoruba which included : Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Yinka Odumakin, Senator Femi Okunronumu, Dr. Kunlere Olajide, Dr Fedrick Fasehun, Otunba Gani Adams , Prinde Dayo Adeyeye, Engr. Jide Adeniji and Kola Are.
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