JOINT MURIC/OPC-R PRESS CONFERENCE ON 2023 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION AS IT AFFECTS THE YORUBA PEOPLE HELD AT THE OPC-R SECRETARIAT, ISHERI,
LAGOS ON TUESDAY, 20TH DECEMBER, 2022.
Chief Francis Oludare Adesope, president, the Reformed Oodua
People's Congress (OPC-R),
Members of the OPC-R
Members of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
Greatest Muricians! Greatest Muricians!!
Leaders and members of organisations here present
Gentlemen of the Press
As-Salaam alaykunm wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu.
I welcome you all to this
joint MURIC/OPC-Reformed press conference.
The rationale for the press
conference is the need to sensitise the South West concerning the coming 2023
presidential election in which a bona fide Yoruba candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
is a major contestant.
This is not the first time
MURIC will be collaborating with the OPC-Reformed. We held a similar exercise
on 9th September, 2020 to diffuse tension in Yorubaland and to make peace reign
( https://dailypost-ng.cdn.
It is also on record that
the late OPC leader, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, collaborated with MURIC during his
lifetime. He attended the interfaith symposium organised by MURIC at the
University of Lagos about 20 years ago. He was one of the speakers at the
event.
We are indeed very happy to
be associated with the OPC-Reformed under the able leadership of Chief Francis
Oludare Adesope. We will continue to Forster this friendship because it is
promoting cordial relationship among Muslims, Christians and traditionalists
for overall peace and security in Yorubaland and Nigeria in general.
2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
:
It is our belief that the
Yoruba has every reason to support their kinsman, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, being the
most eminently qualified among all the candidates.
It is also our submission that all issues of Yoruba separatist agitation
will be addressed and resolved if a Yoruba man emerges as president come 2023.
We have no doubt that those complaining of marginalisation of Yorubaland are
most likely to give a son of the soil listening ears once Tinubu becomes
president.
It is in this regard that
we are calling on the Yoruba to give peace and unity a chance by rallying
behind their son, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
We remind the Yorubas of
the lyrics of the late Hubert Ogunde song, Yoruba Ronu, i.e.
Yorubas should reflect, 'Ro, ro, ro, Yoruba ronu o. Yoruba yo yo yo bi ina ale,
Yoruba ru, ru, ru bi omi okun, Yoruba baba ni baba nse.
Ro, ro, ro, Yoruba ronu o.'
The North has been in power
for eight years. It will give the North almost 20 year rule if another
Northerner becomes president again. We must vote for Tinubu in order to avoid
that predicament. Remember that Ogunde said 'Ori ki mai buru titi ko pogun
odun...' (One should not remain unlucky for 20 years). It is now the turn of
the South and a highly competent Yoruba politician has succeeded in winning the
presidential primaries.
'Awa lo kan. E gbe kini yi wa'. We must not allow this golden opportunity
to slip past us. We missed it in the days of our great leader, Chief Obafemi
Awolowo. We missed it in the days of Chief M. K O. Abiola. We must get it
right this time. It will be a monumental mistake for the Yorubas to reject Bola
Ahmed Tinubu. He is our son. He has the pedigree. His record is unbeaten and
the fact that Lagos is the Makkah of all Nigerians today is enough proof
of his competence.
MURIC AND THE YORUBA PEOPLE
:
We are constrained to
affirm that our organization is prepared to work hand in hand with all tribes
in the country. MURIC is a multi-ethnic organisation and we will never work
against any tribe.
The allegation leveled
against MURIC in certain quarters particularly in publications of Alaroye
newspaper that MURIC is an enemy of the Yoruba people is false and this joint
press conference with the OPC-Reformed is a clear evidence that MURIC is a
friend of the Yoruba People, not an enemy. It is the demand of MURIC for the
fundamental human rights of Muslims in Yorubaland that some people
mischievously interprete as anti-Yoruba stand. This is wrong and misleading.
We appeal to separatists
groups who are demanding the creation of a Yoruba nation out of the present
entity to give peace a chance as we are certain that issues at stake would have
been covered by the time Tinubu occupies Aso Rock.
INTEGRATE OPC INTO AMOTEKUN
CORP :
It is well known that it
was the OPC that saved the South West from the constant attacks of armed
robbers. They boldly confronted armed criminals and they were able to subdue
them particularly between 1985 and 2005. They were not paid for their services
and many members of the OPC died while confronting the hoodlums.
Unfortunately the various
governments of the South West forgot the OPC when they established an official
security outfit called Amotekun. MURIC declares that this is unfair.
We call on governments in the South West to review their recruitment
method into Amotekun with a view to integrating original OPC members from
different factions (Fasehun, Gani Adams and OPC-Reformed under Chief Francis
Oludare Adesope). This will strengthen the security of Yorubaland. Government
should not insist on educational qualification alone.
Greatest Muricians!
Greatest Muricians!!
There is victory for us
In the struggle for our rights
There's victory for us...
When I remember Awolowo my
eye run away me oooooo
Aye, aye, my eye run away me oooooo
When I remember MKO my eye run away me oooooo
MUSO! MUSO!! MUSO OOO!!!
GIDIGBO! GIDIGBO!! GIDIGBO OOOO!!!
YEE YEEEEEE!!!
My dear friend, Chief
Francis Oludare Adesope, President, OPC-R, distinguished members, Gentlemen of
the press, thank you for listening. Allah bless you all.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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