Yoruba nation agitators have been called upon to jettison the agitation for now, until the Yoruba people learn to be united and speak with one voice.
Making this call was an Islamic cleric, Prof. Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, who also averred that the body language of Yoruba leaders is a clear indication that they are not yet prepared for self determination.
Olagoke, a renowned Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Public Administration, enjoined all those behind the agitation for Yoruba nation to go and study the agenda of Brexit and how Britain was able to come out of the union successfully after many years.
The Islamic cleric, who is a former Dean, School of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, made the disclosures, while addressing journalists in Ibadan, during a monthly guest forum organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel, of the Oyo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
Describing the myriads of problems facing Nigeria as unfortunate, he attributed the rise in ethnic agitation to the absence of justice and equity in the country.
He said that there must be justice and equity to get sustainable development, which is the ultimate goal of true democracy.
He added, “Yoruba are highly divided. Look at the people agitating, look at their antecedents. Some Yoruba leaders were some of those behind the advisors of government against their own people.
“Even your governor here disowned Igboho, who is agitating for Yoruba nation. Look at Chief M.K.O. Abiola before he was killed through the conspiracy theory, Babangida ensured that Yoruba people were used against him. They rose against him (Abiola). So, the Yoruba people are not prepared for self determination yet.”
Lamenting the rate of insecurity in the land, Olagoke said that most of the uneducated youths have become armed bandits, kidnappers and killer herdsmen, because of institutionalized hunger and poverty.
He accused the political class of complacency, and lack of vision, making reference to the legacies of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and declared that Nigeria is not yet democratized.
The professor also bemoaned efforts of the political class at destroying education over the years, wondering why the Nigerian government has failed to fund the education sector.
He said, “Education in Nigeria is not functional. You can’t give what you don’t have . UNESCO says you must allocate 26 per cent of your budget to fund education. But the profile data we have in the last 15 years is from five per cent, seven per cent and 10 per cent maximum. However in Ghana, the data showed that about 32 per cent was allocated to education and that has been so for the past 15 years.
“That explains why many Nigerians are moving their children to Ghana for quality education.”
