I know that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is not a perfect man. I know that Olusegun Obasanjo is not perfect. Yemi Osinbajo, even as a man of God cannot say thay. I know that none of the prominent and outstanding Yoruba leaders is perfect. But, I also know that Yoruba as a race in Nigeria - not just a race - but a prominent one, deserves political leadership. We cannot be a political race without a political leadership. It won't work for the survival of the Yoruba race in the national politics of Nigeria. It won't work for our socio-economic and political well being in Nigeria to be politically headless!
Just the same way Moses was not near a perfect man and still God chose him to lead the children of Israelites out of Egypt, because God Himself appreciates the essence of leadership in the life of a race. He was a stamerer; He was a muderer; he was a bad tempered man,etc yet God anointed him as the leader of the race of Israel. Many examples abound in all our holy books like that.
I repeat. I know Bola Tinubu is not a perfect man. But, because I also know that the Yoruba race cannot continue to survive politically and economically without a leader, I will accept him as the leader of the present Yoruba race. I will accept Olusegun Obasanjo as one also. I will accept anyone, who can stand out prominently the way these two have stood out for our race over time. Because, realitistically, if we remove these two illustrious sons of the Yoruba race from the National politics of Nigeria right now, who can we see that is left. Who else can we have as substitues? Who can match their political achievements and prominence in Yoruba land right now? Who can always be at the fore front to fight for us? Who are like Obasanjo and Tinubu in the national politics of the Yoruba race right now? Who?! Honestly, none yet that I can see.
For that reason, I agree and accept that these two great men are the anointed leaders of the Yoruba race right now. Because, any race without a leader is a headless race. And so, could be a directionless and achievementless one indeed. On this note also, it is one which can always be easily margginalised, shortchanged, harassed and abused the same way former president Goodluck Jonathan tried to do when he was in power. And maybe now again this is what the present government wants to repeat. Yoruba race must have arrow-head leaders. Or else we are done for! Let us call a spade, a spade!
Those Yorubas who are in the habit of running Yoruba leaders down diminishly, maybe out of ignorance, rebellious orientation or akward parochial interest should just take note and stop it! Other tribes in Nigeria don't run their leaders down like that! It is only we the Yorubas! And that is why it seems we are already losing it! Honestly, politically, we are losing it! We, Yorubas are missing it and we are losing it! Rebellion is already running us out of political relevance in Nigeria! This is the truth! We are losing it and we should know it now..."
- Olukayode Salako is the National Coordinator, Change Agent of Nigeria Network (CANN) and a true son of the Yoruba desent in Nigeria.
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