Human rights groups in the Yoruba speaking areas, numbering 121 Yoruba groups under the aegis of All Yoruba Democratic Movement (AYDM) on Thursday endorsed the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as the candidate they would support for the 2023 general elections.
This decision was taken after a two day meetings the Yoruba groups held in Lagos to assess all the presidential candidates vying for the post of the president of Nigeria.
The meeting which had in attendance large number of human rights groups from Yoruba speaking communities in different parts of the country, which included Lagos state, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Kogi, Kwara states, Edo and Delta states.
Reading the communique issued after the meeting, Comrade Taiwo Ajayi of South West Progressives stated that on Wednesday October 05, leaders of 121 groups capped the consultations with a meeting which took several hours.
“We have come out with a resolution which is fanatically binding on all members of the alliance and we make bold to proclaim this as the Lagos 2023 Declaration to be pursued with all our strength, with our feet, our toiling hands and with all endowed powers the creator of heaven and earth bestowed on us.”
According to him, the age-long political philosophy of the Yoruba people is to provide the pathway for their leaders.
The communique further reads that, “that we, representatives of 121 Pan Yoruba, civil society, communities based groups in the South West hereby adopt ASIWAJU AHMED BOLA TINUBU for the 2023 Presidential Election.”
AYDM explained that, “those who hate his candidacy do so for many reasons,one of which is their cruel hatred for anything Yoruba which they continue to propel using false narratives to justify their anger against the dignity associated with Yoruba heritage. We have listened to those who argue that is their turn.”the group said.
The group noted that the party APC on which Tinubu is contesting is not the best,but it is still better than other political parties,”this is not to diminish the fact that the APC has immense contradictions and should not be seen as an end in itself. Within the context of Nigerian political framework and given the options available to the people, the APC is better but not the best,” he said.
Members of the group promised to campaign vigorously for Tinubu-Shettima with all their strength, with all their sweat, brain and even their brawl, through the streets, on the road, in the farms, on the sea shores, in the valleys, on the mountains, on the sea and on the land; on radio, on the social media and on means of mass communications,and the campaign would be the first of its kind.AYDM explained.
The group said it has also engaged the service of 150,000 volunteers that will campaign for Tinubu-Shettima from now till end of the election next year,”to this end, we announce here the appointment of 150,000 Campaign Volunteers who will work from now until March.
