Afenifere Decries Marginalization Of Yorubas… Seek Audience With Jonathan

Is the Yoruba ethnic group of south western Nigeria marginalized under the present dispensation led by President Goodluck Jonathan? The complaints of lopsidedness in federal appointments or citing of federal projects since the advent of democracy is not new as different ethnic groups have at one point or the other protested their political marginalization.

Afenifere Leader, Dr. Reuben Fasoranti
Afenifere Leader, Dr. Reuben Fasoranti

It is in the light of the foregoing that the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has for the second time, sought audience with president Jonathan. The Yoruba leaders, who had earlier visited Jonathan on the issue of “political marginalization of the south west”, said they were not happy that the President had not taken any action to rectify the “anomaly” in the nation’s political structure, which they had complained about.

A leader of Afenifere, Senator Femi Okunrunmu, disclosed that the group had already made request for the second visit, and were awaiting the President’s go ahead.

He said, “We (Yoruba leaders) had met with Jonathan to complain about the marginalisation of Yoruba, but he has not done anything about it. So, we have decided to pay him another visit. We have already made our intention known to the Presidency. We are now waiting for the President to give us an appointment.

“We have the details of the situation which we intend to present to the President. It is as if the South-West has been excised from the country. If you look at all the top political positions and appointments in the country, it is not hard to see that South-West has been marginalised in this administration.

“Check from number one, which is the President, to number 15, you won’t find a Yoruba person there. Look at the people controlling the economy, the finance minister, the Central Bank governor, no Yoruba person is there. The first lawyers in this country were Yoruba. Today, Yoruba are marginalised in the judiciary. In the National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives: Yoruba people are not in leadership position. It is bad. It’s as if Yoruba are not wanted.”

1 COMMENT

  1. With due respect, the Yoruba’s has left this issue for so long but only to talk about irrelevant issues, No unity & Cooperation among We Yoruba’s, why was this issue not address by a typical Yoruba man, OBJ ???.
    However, are we Really our brothers keeper ?????. Noooooo. [An Hausa person] will Never because of Envy & betrayed his hausa person. ” YORUBA E JEKA RONU”.