Afenifere Renewal Group(ARG) Sunday, July 12, 2020 declared that the Yoruba Nation is ready to take over the mantle of leadership from President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.
The group also called on prominent Yoruba leaders in the All Progressive Congress (APC) such as Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubu, National leader of APC, the party’s pioneer chairman Chief Bisi Akande, Chairman, Nigeria Governors forum Dr. Kayode Fayemi to address the unwarranted division among its ranks urgently and ensure the South West region cliches the presidential ticket of the party in 2023.
Speaking with pressmen in Ado Ekiti, ARG Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State, Prince Michael Ogungbemi said “ARG had met and we had concluded that the Yoruba Nation is ready to lead Nigeria. We have a blueprint that we can present to any presidential candidates that is willing to facilitate better development and the expected deviden of Democracy.
“The Southwest is ready to take over. We have human and material resources. The political leaders must go on consultations. We have six geo-political zones, Southwest is just a block. Tinubu must lead this block. Luckily, Dr. Kayode Fayemi who is the NGF chairman is from the Southwest too”.
“They must move as a united family to clamor for the presidency for the Southwest and produce a unified front. If they can speak with one voice,we will actually clinch the ticket because it is our turn.
“We can’t go into that race with a divided house. Tinubu, Fayemi, Akande, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Sen. Femi Okunrounmu Sen. Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and many others must convey a meeting of the progressive politicians in the zone so that we can be united. If we have a candidate that is acceptable to both the North and the South we will surely win.
“But Yoruba Nation will blame Tinubu, Fayemi, Akande if the Southwest fails to clinch the ticket” he said.
The group however advocate for what it called “classical restructuring” of the Country so that the lopsidedness in all zones and ethnic groups can be addressed in phases.
“Nigeria needs to be restructured, but what we need is classical restructuring, it might not be holistic for now, with restructuring, governance at the State will be healthier and the running of the States will be better.
“Governance under the presidential system is very powerful and costly, but with power residing in the states and Local Governments, things will be better. We must have a roundtable referendum to achieve this. It is not to satisfy certain groups”.
Ogungbemi also commended Governor Fayemi’s achievement in areas like Education, Industrial development, and many others since his assumption of office.
Yemisi Oreoluwa
