In view of present socioeconomic challenges, the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to be heedless to the ideas of international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank.
Rather, the forum urged the president to heed more to local pieces of advice and pursue the interests of Nigerians.
The forum, through its leader, Senator Femi Okurounmu, gave this advice during a visit to the Oyo governor, Seyi Makinde, in Ibadan.
Okurounmu said: “The nation is going through many challenges right now but I pray that we will get out of it. My advice is that the President needs to listen more to the people and listen less to the international financial institutions.
“He should try and pursue the interest of the people as much as possible.”
Speaking on the invasion of the Oyo Secretariat, Ibadan, by some Yoruba nation agitators, Okurounmu described the invasion as misguided and not supported by Yoruba leaders.
He said the forum had warned the agitators and believed that the interest of the Yoruba race would be best protected within the context of one Nigeria.
Okurounmu said the Yoruba race remained committed to the progress and development of the country.
Okurounmu said: “Our advice to the Yoruba race is to try to buckle our belts and put ourselves in strong position within the context of one Nigeria so that the Yoruba will not lag behind the other people in the country. We can play our role in Nigeria and champion the progress of the nation as a whole.
“The Yoruba Nation agitators are misguided people and what they did was not in the interest of the Yoruba people and a lot of Yoruba leaders are not behind them. So, they have been chastised by the Yoruba leaders.”
Okurounmu added that the visit to Makinde was to identify with a governor who is active, forward-looking, vibrant, and formidable.
Also on the visiting delegation were Senator Anthony Adefuye; Professor Tunde Adeniran; Professor Muibi Opeloye; Princess Bisi Sangodoyin and Mr. Emmanuel Adelana.
In his remarks, Makinde appreciated members of the forum for consistently pursuing its objectives, which centres on protecting the interest of Yorubaland.
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