The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), on Wednesday, declared that its Elders’ Council never said Fulani people should not have a representative in the South-West zone, but they should avoid rubbishing the custom and tradition of their host communities in the South West.
Speaking through its former national president, Dansaaki Samuel Agbede, YCE maintained that the organisation is a forum for the protection of Yoruba interest, the preservation of its cultural values and propagation of the concept of ‘Omoluwabi’.
Agbede, the immediate past president of the YCE affirmed that the council had since its inception maintained neutrality in issues relating to religion, politics and remain consistent in fighting for the welfare of the Yoruba nation.
Reacting to a publication credited to some individuals operating under the banner of Yoruba Council Worldwide [Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaaye], Agbede contended that the publication was nothing but self-serving and incongruous with the reality on ground.
According to him, “ordinarily, one would have ignored the ranting of the seeming traitors and betrayal of the Yoruba cause since the generality of our people are in tune with what we are doing on their behalf going by the deluge of the feedbacks we receive, but their paymasters won’t appreciate the futility of the errand the traitors were sent’.’
YCE further maintained that “any group of people living in any part of the country have the rights to assemble and elect representatives but they should avoid denigrating the culture and custom of the host community where they reside.”
“YCE has never said Fulani people don’t have to right to elect their leader or representative but they should ensure they don’t denigrate the custom and tradition of the people who accommodate them.
“The group should cite an example where Yoruba people in the North would move around a city riding horse with a retinue of aides behind him. Can that ever happen in the North?
“So, they should tread softly by not mistaking the accommodating gesture of Yoruba for stupidity. They should not trample on the tradition and custom of the community accommodating them.” That’s what we are saying.”
“For their education, nobody is saying the Yorubas are tired of living peacefully with other members of ethnic groups, we have always been accommodating, but, the recent events of kidnapping for the ransom payment, killing, raping and other forms of atrocities are surely not ingredients of peaceful co-existence and all these we detest at the Elders’ Forum of the YCE.”
“We should have feelings for our brothers and sisters that had fallen victim to the Fulani marauders and do all within our capabilities to put a stop to their impunity. We cannot fold our arms and watch sheepishly while our race is being systemically wiped off, posterity will surely not forgive us,” Agbede concluded
