Letters & Communiqùes
Ethnic Nationalities Organisations

Communiqùe:
Egbe Omo Yoruba Review State of Nigeria, Demands for S.N.C.
Friday, April 21, 2000
EGBÉ OMO YORÙBÁ, U.S.A. AND CANADA
Forwarded by: Maxima1757@aol.com

Press Release
EGBÉ OMO YORUBA, U.S.A. AND CANADA
7600 Georgia Avenue NW Suite 207
Washington DC. 20012

URL:www.Yorubanation.org

EGBE OMO YORUBA REVIEWS STATE OF THE COUNTRY,
DEMANDS FOR A SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE NOW

COMMUNIQùE OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON SATURDAY APRIL 8, 2000 AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, DC

On Saturday, April 8, 2000, members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of Egbé Omo Yorùbá, U.S.A. and Canada, converged in Washington D.C. for their quarterly meeting which was chaired by the President of the Egbé, Dr. Olú Otúbùsìn, and which elected Dr Olugbenga Ekundayo of the Baltimore chapter as its new General Secretary.

The NEC, which is the supreme organ of the organization, reviewed the state of the Yorùbá Nation within the context of the present dispensation in Nigeria, and

1. Observed with concern, the current rudderless situation in the country which made it impossible for her to move anywhere since the new dispensation, with respect to issues that concern the welfare of our people

2. Noted with regret an apparent tendency toward complacency on the part of political office holders and jobbers

3. Perceived, with trepidation, the current threats to Yoruba unity as manifested in the various intra-community conflicts.

4. Observed with apprehension, the seeming lack of direction and/or commitment by elected Yoruba leaders to the hopes and aspirations of Yoruba people as expressed clearly in the period leading to and after the 1999 elections

5. Renewed its call for a Sovereign National Conference of all nationalities as the only forum for an adequate resolution of all the problems facing the country, describing as misplaced, General Obasanjo's fear that the SNC might lead to the disintegration of the country.

6. Observed that, since every nationality group in the country had at one time or the other demanded for confederation or some variant of federalism, and since no nationality is now pressing for dismemberment of the country, the outcome of the Sovereign National Conference should be acceptable to all and resolve the problem of disunity.

7. Declared its unflinching support for the progressive aspirations of all Yoruba organizations, including Oodua Peoples Congress, and warns all Yoruba to be vigilant against fifth columnists in their midst.

8. Declared its support for all progressive organizations from all nationalities, including but not limited to Igbo Youth Congress, Ijaw National Congress, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, Southern Solidarity Front and Southern Nigeria Solidarity Movement.

In view of the foregoing, Egbé Omo Yorùbá, U.S.A. and Canada hereby strongly urges all Yoruba organizations, leaders as well as followers to:

1. Rededicate themselves anew to the hopes and aspirations of those ideals that have made the Yorùbá Nation great.

2. Recommit themselves to the idea, and work for the actualization of the Sovereign National Conference of all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, as the true mechanism for establishing real peace and progress in the country.

3. Vigorously pursue an urgent, and quick resolution of all outstanding differences in the leadership of Oòduà Peoples Congress (O.P.C.), an organization which cannot be allowed to be driven out of existence by any conspirators however well-placed.

4. Urgently impress on current elected leaders and functionaries the need for the establishment of open, accountable and progressive machineries, for the development and strengthening of indegenous enterprise and leadership in Yorùbá land, and to fulfil the legitimate aspirations of our people.

5. Encourage current elected officials to take steps to entrench Yorùbá language culture, national identity and meritocracy in legislation, education, industry, commerce and all areas of life in Yorùbá land.

6. Challenge all Yorùbá organizations, local, national and international, to intensify their efforts to put forward the Yorùbá Agenda for the Sovereign National Conference and to foster dialogue and communication with non-Yorùbá organizations around them.

7. Take up the challenge to organize Yoruba National Conference at local, divisional, state and regional levels to put together Yoruba position at the Sovereign National Conference.

At the end of the meeting, NEC also decided to hold the 8th Annual Convention of Egbé Omo Yorùbá, U.S.A. and Canada on July 28- 30, 2000 in Chicago, USA, and it has also scheduled the First World Congress of Yorùbá People April 24 - 29, 2001 in Washington, DC, USA. Further information will be provided at a later date.

Olú Ekúndayò,
General Secretary.

Please direct all correspondence to: The General Secretary,