THE PRESS STATEMENTS FROM THE STABLE OF THE COUNCIL OF YORUBA ELDERS (CYE) RELEASED TODAY MONDAY 22ND JANUARY, 2024 -

BEING THE 7TH EDITION OF THE PRESS STATEMENTS FROM THE STABLE OF THE COUNCIL OF YORUBA ELDERS (CYE) RELEASED TODAY MONDAY 22ND JANUARY, 2024

CYE THE NEW VOICE OF THE YORUBA PEOPLE

Theme: YORUBA DESTINED TO RESCUE NIGERIANS AND AFRICA

Dedication:
I, the humble assigned writer of this piece, am without any streak of doubt in an absolute state of melancholy, perhaps I am disconsolate with the ink with which I write being the collection of tears from my eyes.

Although the news has become a norm in the national life of Nigeria, this particular incident, however, hit me like a thunderbolt with debilitating effect on my spine down to the bone marrows. The victim this time around was the 13 year-old Folashade the daughter of Barrister Oladosu Ariyo of Yoruba extraction resident in Abuja who the bandits invaded right in their home and commandeered the mother and three siblings to the dungeon of death. Upon the inability of the father at raising the demanded ransom of N60 million to time, one of the children Folashade was summarily murdered while the murderers have the nozzles of their guns on the heads of the mother and the remaining children prone to being shot at will.

The mentally hemorrhaged lawyer must have lost his composure when he pleaded with his colleagues at the bar to come to his rescue. Will his contemporary lawyers be able to rescue the captives?

We, therefore, dedicate this piece to the memory of our daughter Folashade Ariyo while we pray for the miracle that will rescue the captives.

When we mentioned the Folashade case, it is not as if we are unnecessarily being chauvinistic by discriminating against the rest of the thousands of the murdered and current captives across the country, we are only making a random reference in this case.

The Tinubu Debacle
According to the Isaac Newton’s third law of motion, ‘To every action, there must be an equal and opposite reaction’.

Terrorism and banditry did not just come from the blues but rather they are the effects of a failed state built up to high pyramid by the previous successive governments which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited and whose magnitude he doesn’t have the dynamite to blast into rubble. And paradoxically, when President Tinubu assumed power, he said publicly that he didn’t want the sympathy of anybody as he knew the magnitude of the damage on ground before opting for power. Gosh! But eight months into his tenure, all the social vices and economic debasement have never assuaged. Many thanks to the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and the Current Governor of Anambra State Prof. Charles Soludo who came to the rescue of President Tinubu by making the world to know the factor for the helplessness of President Tinubu in tackling the issues of the country. According to Soludo, Tinubu inherited zero economy. Hmmm.

One of the indices of measuring the power of currencies in the world today is the juxtapositioning of respective national currencies with the US Dollar. Today, Nigeria’s currency has been rated as one of the three weakest currencies in the world. What we have as of 17th January, 2024 (the time of scribbling this piece) as being the exchange rate of Naira to a Dollar is ₦1,310.

Now, with the deteriorating conduct of governance by the political appointees of the President who are supposed to be true humanitarians but rather towing the line of the past savagely ravagers bent on suckling the milch cow to death, where then is the hope of the people from the current cul-de-sac?

Yoruba destined to rescue Nigerians and Africa
Without engaging in any act of immodesty, arrogance, provocation, invidiousness and chauvinism against any other parts of Nigeria nay Africa, let us say it for the purpose of history and future affirmation that; quite a lot of prophecies and intellectual analyses have been submitted to the effect that if Nigeria and Africa must be rescued from their ageless manacles, the Yorubas have been destined for their liberation.

And came some Anthropologists of yore who once submitted from their discovery that the most intelligent people among the entire black race were the Yorubas. And come to think of it, some facts will readily lay credence to the substantiation of this seeming mere myth. Just look around Africa and pry into the list of the firsts, you will not sweat to find the Yorubas on the first list across the board of excellence.

But here is a snag. How will the Yorubas liberate Nigeria and Africa? A big poser, isn’t it?

Today the evolution of manistestation has been on the looms.

This assigned writer is on record as one of the pioneers and front liners in the self–determination project in Yorubaland nay Nigeria dating back to some 30 years now whose processes have been in steady evolution over the decades. Hitherto, the platform or instrument of operation has been an organization known as Oodua Redemption Alliance. The three–point thrusts of the organization are as follows:
A. To liberate Yorubaland into a sovereign state with all peaceful modalities.

B. To transform the sovereign country into a first-world and super-power country within a scope of 10 years.

C. To set the template for other African countries to adopt.

But very lately something happened that touched on the modus operandi of the system and literally shunted us off the rail of our peregrination for a moment.

A bona fide Yoruba man has become the helmsman of the affairs of Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Whether he believes in the Yoruba course to freedom or not is not the issue here. We know he doesn’t. But the issues are these:
A. Must we go headlong in a frontal manner to attack our own kinsman in authority under whatever circumstances? No.

B. Must we bury our aspiration to improve the lives of our people in the name of a Yoruba President? No.

Thus what the law of dynamism dictated was to re-assess our strategies or modalities. Hence, we arrived at forming the Council of Yoruba Elders (CYE) whose thrusts are as follows:
A. It is a non-political organization dedicated to the general development of Yorubaland and the comfort of the Yoruba people in all ramifications.

B. It shall be the new and veritable voice for the Yoruba people and fight home our benefits within the Nigerian context.

C. It shall strongly advocate for the restructuring of Nigeria back to the old regional system that will give each region the antonomy to govern itself.

Thus we set sail on two modes of restructuring;
A. The National Restructuring and

B. The Internal Restructuring.

On the national restructuring, we launched out on the campaign through our press statement of 21st November, 2023 asking for the excavation of the report of the 2014 Jonathan CONFAB. And great enough the people captured the message very firmly as the release went so much viral across the world with positive feedback. Let us emphasize with all hearts of gladness that the wide- spread embrace the campaign enjoyed has been very exhilarating.

At this juncture, we need to shower encomiums, with special gratitude, on a nationalist extraordinaire namely, Alh. Yahaya Ndu who has been extremely amazing in the deployment of his super human relations prowess into making intensive and extensive contacts and consultations across the country and literal coordination of the project in a very masterly manner. Kudos Alh. Yahaya Ndu.

While the mobilization efforts are on-going, CYE leadership also set out for an agenda of Internal Restructuring in the name of building security around our enclave and setting up some entrepreneurial bodies to enhance our social and economic uplift.

One thing we discovered along the line of this restructuring modality is that 95% of Yoruba people practically want a change but the modality of the seeming hardline posture of self-determination especially as conducted by some of the leaders involved has been scary to them and so this innocuous modality of restructuring is much more welcome to them and well embraced by all. Thus, the acceptance and embrace of CYE by all and sundry including our traditional rulers have been very astounding and so we can boast of our people’s support running up to 95%.

Thus, we set up seven committees on the basis of priority namely;
A. Restructuring Committee
B. Security Committee
C. Food Committee
D. Science & Technology Committee
E. Arts & Culture Committee
F. Sports Committee and
G. Youths Development Committee.

The other special committee we put in place is the Yoruba Think-Tank which comprises scores of our Professors from across the world committed to working on all our ministerial concerns as a build-up for our future governance.

For the purpose of emphasis, while the first seven committees are to provide security around our borders and develop the economy of Yorubaland right within Nigeria – we call it RBR Agenda meaning Restructuring Before Restructuring – the second committee is to develop a super blueprint for our future governance in a regionalized Yoruba entity with the intent of transforming Yoruba region into a first-world and super-power entity.

These efforts are meant to open Yorubaland to both local and foreign investments under a secure atmosphere without infringing on the constitution of Nigeria.

Succinctly put, our targets, therefore, are as follows:
A. The Restructuring Committee is to explore all at its disposal to instigate the restructuring of Nigeria.

B. The Security Committee has perfected its blueprint for the perfect protection of our geographical space with all physical and intelligence network, technological devices and spiritual surveillance in the manner of astral policing.

C. The Food Committee has put its acts together to establish cattle ranches, rice, cassava, pepper, tomato, onions and the rest plantations across all the states of Yorubaland.

D. The Science & Technology Committee has set itself for the establishment of massive and well secured industrial estates across our states with the mobisition of our science and engineering experts in our higher institutions and talented artisans and innovators from all the nooks and crannies of the land.

E. The Arts & Culture Committee is getting set to show our rich arts and culture for the world to behold as contingents from all Yoruba settlements from across the world namely Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti and the rest are soon converging at a massively constructed ground in Ile-Ife our spiritual headquarters to showcase the Yoruba race for the world to see so as to attract international focus on Yorubaland.

F. The Sports Committee is on the match to launching into action hunting for the sports talents among our roaming youths and organizing sports activities from ward levels, to local government levels, to state levels, to national levels and to international levels. After all England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are four nations from a single umbrella country known as Britain and each of the four nations has the freedom to go to the mundial independently.

G. The Youths Development Committee has been very amazing in drawing up a lot of programmes that will engage millions of our idle and aimlessly roaming youths in productive activities.

Our solicitation
All we, there, require for the launch pad of all the various initiatives reeled out above are the financial, material and investment supports of our well-to-do personages namely, our rich Yoruba people.

We, therefore, call on the few names at our disposal among the myriad to answer our clarion call so we will not have more of the travails of Barrister Oladosu Ariyo and the murdered daughter Folasade, and that Yorubaland will begin to witness global-level socio-economic development within the larger enclave of Nigeria and so that when the history of Yorubaland is being written, your names will not be missing on the slab of gold.

Mike Adenuga
Femi Otedola
Oba Otudeko
Tunde Folawiyo
Adedeji Adeleke
Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan
Folorunso Alakija
Bayo Ogunlesi
Michael Ade-Ojo
Grace Omobowale
Babs Ogundeji
Tayo Ofioso
Wale Babalakin
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II
Charles Ekundayo
Ajayi Oluwatobi
Asiwaju Akinwumi
Funke Opeka
Hassan Odukale
Babatunde Fajemirokun
Adekoya Okupe
Olayinka Adebayo
Abosede Ayeni
Kehinde Kamson
Mabel Adelayo
Deji Akinyanju
Sola Akinlade
Subomi Balogun Family
Jimoh Ibrahim
Samuel Adedoyin
Bola Shagaya
Dele Fajemirokun
Fola Adeola
Olu Okeowo
Rashidi Ladoja
Gbite Falade
Adedamola Adeyemi-Bero
Sulaimon Adebola Adegunwa
Abdulrazaq Isa
Temie Giwa Tubosun
Femi Kuti
Ola Akinyanju
Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan
Olu Akinyanju
Bayo Bashir Ojulari
Adeyemi Omobowale
Tope Sonubi
Rotimi Badero
Layi Fatona
Adeniyi Osuntogun
Folasade Ogunsola
Ayo Olukotun
Ayodele Atsenuwa
Gabriel Igbinedion Family
Williams Kumuyi
Enoch Adejare Adeboye
David Oyedepo
Mathew Ashimolowo
Sam Adeyemi
Kessington Adebutu
Afe Babalola
Wale Oke
Taiwo Adelakun
Dele Fajemirokun
Farouk Onikijipa
Mojeed Eleha
Muideen Ajani Bello
Sijibomi Ogundele
Latunde Ayeni
Adebowale Odunuga
Ebenezer Fabiyi-Obey
Tayo Amusan
Stephen Akintayo
Seyi Sagaya
Sunday Adegeye (Sunny Ade)
Suleiman Adegunwa
Ibukun Odunayo
Abdulwasiu Sawami
Olugbenga Agula
Wale Tinubu
Dele & Victoria Samson (BOVAS)
Salimonu Oladiti
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun
David Adeleke
Olamide Gbenga Adedeji
Laide Fowosire
Femi Omotara
F. G. O. Elias
Nurudeen Sarayi
F. A. Shonubi
Abdulfatai Ayodele Alawiye
Safiriyu Araba
Anthony Adegbulugbe
Oludare Bello
95 A. F. Bello
Akinjisola D. Ige
Bankole Eke
Ige Awe
Wasiu Ayinde Anifowose
Abass Akande Obesere
Wasiu Alabi Pasuma
Saheed Osupa
Tope Alabi
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu
Tiwatope Savage
Yemi alade
Adekunle Gold
Asake
Taiye Akande Adebisi
Funke Akindele
Odunlade Adekola
Femi Adebayo
Kunle Afolayan
Tolulope Omogbeyin (Omos)
Obafemi Martins
Rashidat Ajibade
John Fasanu
Oba Femi
Anthony Joshua
Dele Alli
Adebayo Akinfenwa
David Alaba
Bose Omolayo
Folashade Oluwafemiayo
Olusoji Fasuba
126 Bukayo Saka
Israel Adesanya
Karim Adeyemi
Boluaji Fagborun
Sadiq Adebayo
Ola Aina
B. Akinsola
S. Erimuyiwa
B. Akinsola
M. Gbolahan
Y. Otubanjo
P. Komolafe
O. Folorunso
O. Ojetunde
S. Adegbero
O. Afolabi
T. Adeniji
D. Ajibola
S. Adebare
J. Ayinde
G. Ogungbe
S. Ajayi
S. Ojo
D. Ogunji
A. Adebare Babatunde
A. Olalekan
A. Adisa
S. Fatai
M. Kasali
I. Gbadamosi
A. Taiwo
A. Ogunniyi
A. Wande
E. Agbaji
O. Kayode

Aside the above list, we know we have millions of other Yoruba rich who should feel a sense duty to lend a land to this innovative and historic project.

Other than the above, we call for the cooperation of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his identity as a bona fide Yoruba man who should see himself first as a Yoruba man before being a Nigerian, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Governor Oluseyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State a core Yoruba man but who ironically has always alienated himself from the core Yoruba system.

Also, we are not leaving out our Ministers, Senators, Representatives and State Houses Legislators from our call for the requested support. After all, nobody is threatening your positions and infringing on the constitution of Nigeria. All we are saying is that we can develop Yorubaland within Nigeria so that the template we build can be replicated by other regions so we can strategically turn our collective situations around.

We also call on all our professional bodies like the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Medical Association, Nigerian Society of Engineers, ICAN etc. as well as charity organizations like Rotary International, Lion’s Club International etc.

Finally, we call on all investors from across the world to explore the grand design of business opportunities we are availing to the world through our RBR agenda.

If, however, our Yoruba rich failed to answer to our call for the collective good of all through this innocuous agenda and failed to see this initiative as the last saving grace for Yoruba race, I am afraid we would all sink together. God forbid you say?

The CYE personalities reflection
For the purpose of those who have been clamouring to know the components of the organization and for the enlistment of membership, the advantage of the knowledge is found below:
Chairman Council of Patrons & Patronesses – Her Royal Highness Erelu (Dr. Chev.)Abiola Dosumu
Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos
Yeye Oodua of the Source

+234 806 397 2842

Chairman Governing Council – His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Michael Ajayi Arowotawaya II
The Elerinmo of Erinmo – Ijesa – 08034096888
Chairman Global Executive Council & Secretary General – Dr. Victor Taiwo – 08126923916
Chairman Yoruba Think-Tank – Prof. Oluyemisi Akinyemiju – 08034025596
Chairman Foreign Affairs Committee – Ambassador Dr. Yemi Farounbi – +234 803 375 2533
Chairman Economic Advisory Council – Dr. Oluwole Yewande – 08055777080
Chairman Investors Mobilization Committee – Dr. Layo Adeniyi – 07053795778
Chairman Finance Committee – Elder Dr. Taiye Ayorinde, Baale of Ekotedo, Ibadan – 08097777803
Chairman Fund-raising Committee – OmoOba Olayemi Esugbayi Ajose – +447730332482
Chairman Restructuring Committee – Dr. Gabriel Adetokunbo Pearse – 08066251045
Chairman Security Committee – Chief Marcus Omuiyadun (Commissioner of Police Rtd) – 08038941111
Security Adviser – Barrister Bola Longe (AIG Rtd) – 08077034443
Chairman Food Committee – Pastor Duyilemi Akinjoye – 08035633938
Chairman Arts & Culture Committee – Dr. Joel Fagborun – +447417420780
Chairman Sports Committee – Mr. Akin Olowokere – 08140565317
Chairman Science & Technology Committee – Chief Idowu Akomolafe – 08074725942
Chairman Youths Development Committee – Mr. Oluwafemi Aluko – 08063370374

States Leaders

Lagos-State Chairman – Sir Alh. Hakeem Danmola – 09168777577
Ogun-State Chairman – Rev. Dr. Tola Osinubi – 08167728555
Oyo-State Chairman – Asiwaju Prof. Abass Aderemi Adedibu – 08025501111
Osun-State Chairman – Comrade Sunday Oladipupo – 08037573214
Ondo-State Chairman – Sir Clement Fayomi – 08083006060
Ekiti-State Chairman – Evang. Patrick Tope Akindulu – 08060042708
Kwara State Chairman – High Chief Niyi Tinuoye – +234 803 429 5222
Kogi-State Chairman – Chief John Oluwadare Anjorin – +234 703 202 5115
Edo-State Chairman – Barrister Olatunbosun Okpeseyi – +234 802 715 9472
Delta-State Chairman – Dr. Francis Anomu – 09068964818
Diaspora Chairperson – Princess Dorcas Olayemi Amusan-Fagborun, MBE – +44 7401 222557