•Expresses confidence in the emergence of Yoruba presidency
A pan Yoruba socio-political group, the Yoruba Patriots Movement (YPM) has commended the Southwest Elders of the All Progressives Congress for convening the meeting with all the Yoruba presidential aspirants in Lagos on Friday, 6th May, 2022, describing the outcome as a welcome development.
The meeting had in attendance Chief Bisi Akande, former Executive Governor of Osun State and, the pioneer All Progressive Congress (APC), National Chairman, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Executive Governor of Ogun State and all the aspirants of Yoruba extraction, namely, the Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo,(SAN) (GCON), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Executive Governor of Lagos State and the National leader of the APC, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Executive Governor of Ekiti State, and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former Executive Governor of Ogun State.
Others are the Executive Governors of Ondo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun State, Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodun and Gboyega Oyetola, respectively, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Hon Minister of Trade Industry and Investment, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Hon Minister of Interior, Minister for Works, Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and, the APC National Secretary, Otunba,Dr. Iyiola Omisore (Ph.D).
YPM in a statement signed by its founder and the National Coordinator of Yoruba Patriots Movement (YPM), Barrister Oladosu Oladipo GCCF, on Saturday, May 7, 2022 in Ibadan,Oyo State, and made available to journalists at his No 12, Oladosu Oladipo Close New Bodija residence, Ibadan, Oyo State capital expressed confidence in not only working towards the possibility of achieving a consensus in producing a monolithic Yoruba Presidential candidate, but also in the emergence of Yoruba APC Presidential candidate at the party’s primary later this month
“The wise move by the South-west leaders before the APC primaries scheduled for May 30-June1, 2022 indicates that Southwest is ready, prepared and capable to lead this nation, even to the Next-level prosperity deliverables of life more abundance for Nigeria and all Nigerians in the atmosphere of equity, peace, justice and fairness for all Nigerians without creed, tribe or tongue come 2023”, the statement added in part.
According toHon Dosu Oladipo, the group acknowledged the prepondrous and spontaneous reactions across Nigeria on the arrays of presidential aspirants especially among the Yoruba folks and saluted the courage being displayed by various Yoruba aspirants ahead of 2023 general elections.
While the group commended all presidential aspirants of Yoruba extraction for conducting themselves in an atmosphere devoid of rancor and in campaign ING and mobilizing support for their presidential ambition in a peaceful manner, it however disagreed with the notion that the chance of South west to produce the next president will be dimmed because of many Yorubas jostling for 2023 presidency.
“For the reason that more Yorubas came out to contest for 2023 Presidency, it will not bring acrimony nor slim down the chance of the Yorubas. At the appropriate time, we know what to do, even to the admiration of all our supporters all over the six geopolitical zones of this country devoid of the ethnic divide”, Oladipo stated.
YPM gave kudos to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the Chairman Southern Governors Forum for his sterling leadership role in championing the crusade for the actualisation of Yoruba Presidency in 2023.
Also, the group noted and appreciated Governors Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Aminu Masari of Kano and Katsina states respectively, Sen. Abba Alli, His Excellency Engineer Marcus Gundiri, former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Aminu Suleiman, Alhaji Mohammed Makinta and many other notable Northerners for queuing behind Southwest presidency project.
“We thank all our Northern brothers, including Senator Kabiru Gaya, Her Excellency Dame Pauline Tallen, Engineer Abdullahi Nassarawa and Ajia Maryam Salihu Ibrahim for their total support for Southwest presidency in 2023”, the statement added.
Hon. Oladipo also aligned himself with the position of the Southern and the Middle Belt Forum for power shift to the south, which according to him is in contrast to Professor Ango Abdullah led Northern Elders Forum which canvasses against the power shift, warning that “Bury Zoning of the 2023 Presidency to the South, and bury Nigeria”
