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From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) rose from an emergency meeting and expressed their total support for President Bola Tinubu, but with concern over the increasing suffering and hardships being faced by Nigerians, with the cost of petrol, transportation, and foodstuffs skyrocketing.
The position was made known in a communique issued at the end of the emergency meeting held on August 10, 2023, which was made available to journalists on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The YCE Secretary-General, Chief Oladipo Oyewole, in the communique noted: “Whilst associating fully with the management abilities and capabilities of the present Federal Government administration, it is of concern to YCE that the Federal Government of Nigeria should put in place more pragmatic, practical and visible ways of easing the pains and general hardship, which Nigerians are presently contending with.”
However, the Council also sees hope for Nigeria’s future with effective management and monitoring of current hardships, saying: “We see a good outcome for the tightening of belt in Nigeria as it were whilst we call for effective management and monitoring such that our people would not have suffered for nothing.”
The council also spoke on the alleged infringement on the socio-cultural rights of Yoruba people in Kwara State, with the Emir of Ilorin and his emissaries purportedly causing worry for the YCE.
According to him, the council stands firm in support of the freedom of religious worship as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, calling for the protection of traditional and socio-cultural activities for those who choose to worship in that mode.
“Council also observes that the socio-cultural right of Yoruba people in Kwara State is being contained, marginalised and unduly infringed upon. The Newspaper publication of the Emir of Ilorin and his emissaries has caused worries for the Yoruba Council of Elders.
“Accordingly, council posits that every Nigerian should continue to enjoy the freedom of Religious Worship as entrenched in the existing Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999). We stand firm that the Kwara Emirate should allow tradition and Socio-Cultural activities to exist and thrive for those who choose to worship God in that mode.
“Therefore, Yoruba Council of Elders stand (for reprieve) with the Priestess and the accredited Lead Worshipper (Yeye Osun) who are presently being denied their rights of mode of worship.”
On the coup in Niger Republic, the YCE emphasised the need for high-level diplomatic measures to address the situation in Niger to prevent a potential war that could consume the West Coast of Africa.
“The Yoruba Council of Elders stands firm in the resolve that the situation in Niger should be pursued and addressed with high level diplomatic measures to forestall any action which may escalate into a situation of a war that may consume the West Coast of Africa,” the communique stated.
