Obasanjo hosts Yorubas in Diaspora

The Yoruba living in the Diaspora informed Mr. Obasanjo of the plan to bring socio economic development to the Yoruba speaking people of the world.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday played host to Yorubas in the Diaspora at his hilltop residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital.

The group, under the banner of Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America, and led by its National President, Monilola Tenabe, held a meeting with Mr. Obasanjo expressing their mission, and the development of the race, globally.

Speaking in an interview with journalists after the meeting, Ms. Tenabe said the mission of the visit is to inform Mr. Obasanjo of their plans to mobilize themselves for socio-economic development of the Yoruba-speaking people of the world, starting from Nigeria.

“We decided after our Houston NEC meeting to send a delegation to our icons across the academia, politics, bureaucracy, diplomacy, the traditional institutions and of course our Lords spiritual, to discuss how we can forge partnership with the people and government of the Yoruba nation on various developmental agenda, which we had mapped out,” she explained.

“The responses we have gotten have not only been good but tremendous; we have met a handful of our traditional rulers and are still meeting more of our frontlines across the strata,” Ms. Tenabe said.

The group leader was accompanied on the visit to Mr. Obasanjo by Eunice Adeyanju (National Secretary) and Ayo Turton, the Legal Adviser, among other members.

Mr. Obasanjo in his remark at the meeting lauded the agenda of the group.

He expressed readiness to support the agenda of the group, which he described as “all-time relevant especially in the face of the present reality for self-survival world over.”

“I will be happier if you tinker with the idea of expanding your developmental efforts for the Yoruba nation to women and youth empowerment in Agriculture; we shall continue to bask in deep-seated illusion if we think any meaningful development can take place without getting back to nature to sort things out,” Mr. Obasanjo said

“Three things are important, Agriculture, Agriculture and Agriculture if we must develop industrially and this is without saying that ICT is not important. Remember that of all the world Billionaires, about 10 percent of them are ICT people, but I can say here and now that the remaining percentage make their money from fields that Agriculture produces,” the former President said.