Yoruba YCE And the Politics of South West

Yoruba, YCE And the Politics of South West

WHEN foremost politician, Justice Adewale Thompson (rtd) announced the birth of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), it was trailed with criticisms, and many did not give the thought a chance. To many, such a group is not necessary since Afenifere, which is an umbrella body for the Yoruba is already in place. But Thompson, who served as Commissioner for Justice under the civilian administration of Chief Bola Ige in the old Oyo state said YCE is non-political and that it is meant for the Yoruba. He insisted that Afenifere, of which he is a member, has been politicised and so has derailed from its set objectives.

The inauguration of YCE in Ibadan at the Premier Hotel was significant, particularly against the background of important Yoruba sons and daughters in attendance. Considering the controversy which surrounded the proposed formation of the elders' council, nobody expected it to pull such a crowd. Apart from the meeting of Afenifere, no meeting has put such important Yoruba people together in recent times. Chief Adisa Akinloye sent a representative, Chief Richard Akinjide, Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D Awolowo, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), Dr. Tunji Otegbeye, Dr. Segun Agagu, minister of steel and power, Chief Oluwole Awolowo among others, were all in attendance. Thus considering the huge attendance, Afenifere may be facing the greatest challenge of its claim as the mainstream Yoruba group.

This is not the first time a group has come up to challenge the authenticity of Afenifere and its assumed authority. Imeri Unity Group (IUG) which was formed by Dr. Bode Olajumoke during Abacha administration was alleged to be an alternative platform, when Afenifere decided to boycott the constitutional conference of the administration. Olajumoke, however denied such move, insisting that IUG was not a rival group to Afenifere. There is also Yoruba Parapo, Egbe Ilosiwaju Yoruba, among others. Today, the situation is different. The brains behind the formation of (YCE) are member of Afenifere and former close associates of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Before the formation of YCE, criticisms mounted against the leadership of Afenifere. Many have argued that the pan-Yoruba-socio cultural group had deviated from its set objectives. The problems of Afenifere started during the formation of the political parties. The trio of Senator Abraham Adesanya, Pa Solanke Onasanya and Chief Laniwun Ajayi were accused of unilaterally taking decisions without due consultation with other elders in the group. Historically, Yoruba politics has always been hinged on gerontocracy where elders hold sway and their words become law. But this time around, some elders felt such decisions have been hijacked by a group within the file and rank of Afenifere.

The biggest challenge of Afenifere came during the selection process for the Alliance for Democracy (AD) presidential elections which pitched Chief Bola Ige against Chief Olu Falae. The former lost out in the struggle for relevance. Since then Afenifere has not been the same again. Ige, who is the deputy leader to Adesanya in Afenifere, felt betrayed and developed cold attitude to the association. He is presently serving as Minister of Justice under the Obasanjo government.

Indeed, the search for an alternative platform to pull the rug off the feet of Afenifere has been on for a very long time, even as the politics of exclusion which the group played has been hurting it. For instance, politicians who went to Chief Ige's Ibadan home for eight weeks to explore ways of working with Afenifere, but were shunned, were yet to forgive the association. Many of such politicians today are members of the Federal cabinet. They have vowed not to have anything to do with Afenifere. Except Mrs. Modupe Adelaja, minister of state for Defence, none of the Yoruba ministers attended the meeting, despite a personal invitation sent by Senator Adesanya to them and to President Obasanjo. However, the situation was different last Saturday as Dr. Agagu turned up to grace the ceremony. In fact, Agagu said he was at the meeting to represent other serving Yoruba ministers.

For Afenifere, it is a big blow as its stronghold also seemed to have been dealt a severe blow following the attendance of the meeting by Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D Awolowo. She said she had received several warnings that she should not attend the meeting. But she said she would attend the ceremony. "I thank God today that I'm able to attend this meeting. Several warnings came that OPC will attack me. But I said no, I will attend the meeting." she said. It is hoped that the formation of YCE may serve as an all embracing platform for the Yoruba irrespective of political party the belong.

Besides, the criticism from outside, the younger elements in Afenifere/AD have launched their own onslaught against the leaders. In fact, they seemed to have dislodged the old brigade through a political machinery named Progressive Action Movement (PAM). Its membership include Segun Awolowo, grandson of Chief Awolowo, Toyin Fagbayi, welfare secretary of AD who has since shunned the party, Akin Oshuntokun, Segun Mayegun, Miss Hafsat Abiola among others. Part of the problems Afenifere is facing is the refusal of the elder to separate Afenifere from the AD.

Justice Thompson set the tune when he rolled out the objectives behind the formation of the party. In his speech, Thompson said the formation of YCE was to provide a platform for all Yoruba irrespective of the political parties they came from. Other objectives of the group, according to him, include to link the homeland with the diaspora, to guide the youths in the art and science of nation building with a view to handing over to them a baton which shall not slip. It also intends to maintain its stand as a non-political, non-religious body to all Yorubas. Other objectives, according to Thompson, includes to aid the implementation of the laudable programme of all Yoruba organisations as far as they are complementary of each other and are not inconsistent with the objectives of the council. To serve as an institution of promoting lasting peace and unity among all sections of the Yoruba nation. To encourage and assist other ethnic groups in Nigeria to form similar council of Elders "with which we shall pledge our amity and co-operation. And finally "to dig up the past with a view to exchange our glorious heritage from the debris of history."

He noted that he would not allow the influence of his friends or foes to affect his desire to serve the Yoruba race faithfully, zealously and to the best of his ability. But Chief Ayo Adebanjo said the Afenifere remains unshaken with the formation of YCE, stating that Afenifere will remain resolute in its desire to move the Yoruba nation forward. Like Adebanjo, Senator Abraham Adesanya, leader of Afenifere said the association has come to stay. "We have gone through a lot of trouble in the past and we survived it. This is another one, let me assure you that we shall survive it."

Archdeacon Emmanuel Alayande was elected Secretary General of the group while HID Awolowo was elected Grand patron of the group.

The penultimate Saturday's meeting was quite interesting, considering the success that followed it. However, how far the group can hold the Yoruba people together is what observers of the politics of the south west are waiting to see.

December 2001