The Yoruba Council of Elders has urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, create an enabling environment for the return of all persons on exile.
The Yoruba elders said those in exile included “the personages of Prof Banji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Igboho, who were harassed for advocating proper and dignified treatment of their law-abiding kinsmen”.
The elders spoke in a communique signed by its scribe, Oladipo Oyewole, and Publicity Secretary, Niyi Ajibulu, at the end of the council’s meeting in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday.
They also said YCE had been miffed by the degenerating level of acceptance of the Yoruba language, culture and civilisation, noting that the meeting also deliberated on the presentation of a book, ‘Yoruba Renaissance, Challenges and Prospects’.
They described the book, written by Sir Egunjobi as “a timely enunciation of Yoruba history and contemporary affairs which succinctly illuminates both recurring and emerging challenges and prospects to the Yoruba experience”.
The elders, who took exception to the action of former president Olusegun Obasanjo for ordering some traditional rulers in Oyo State to stand up, said the former President “should certainly apologise and make restitution”.
The elders added, “The YCE takes exception to the humiliation recently meted out to various traditional rulers of Oyo State by Chief Obasanjo upon the claim of status as a former Head of State. This malfeasance constitutes a shameful affront to the dignity of Yoruba tradition and culture and thus stands condemned.”(punch)
