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Yoruba leaders have warned that, if not nipped in the bud, the dispute
between former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba and Senator Femi
Okunrounmu, may deepen the over two decades of crisis in the Yoruba
socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere.
The two octogenarians, who recently launched memoirs to mark their
birthdays, had verbally attacked at each other in their accounts.
While Osoba used *Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics* to
launch himself into the octogenarians club, Okunrounmu used *The Dream:
Pursuing the Black Renaissance Through the Murky Waters of Nigerian
Politics. *
Okunrounmu, who served as chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC)
on the 2014 National Conference, had described the former governor and
founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a liar, traitor
and a double-faced man.
Reacting, Osoba described Okurounmu as a frustrated and unfulfilled
politician who also failed in his chosen profession.
Historian and Second Republic senator, Professor Seth Akintoye; chairman,
Board of Commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),
*Otunba* Olabiyi Durojaiye; and national secretary of Yoruba Council of
Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, have expressed concern over the
development, saying the altercation between the two octogenarians was not
in the best interest of the Yoruba race, especially in face of critical
challenges.
Akintoye said, “Osoba and Okunrounmu are my good friends. We are long
followers of Awolowo and it is not good to see them exchange altercations
in the media. But as an elder statesman, I cannot resort to advising them
on the pages of newspapers.”
Olajide stressed, “I don’t think Nigeria can be restructured through
executive fiat, like our elders are saying. Nigeria is operating a
constitution, and to get it restructured requires a lot of wisdom and
understanding and not necessarily a fire brigade approach. As for the
altercation between Osoba and Okunrounmu, we will definitely resolve it.”
National publicity secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, also
pleaded with the two elders to sheathe their swords in the interest of
their people. “What concerns the zone now in the face of insecurity and
other critical challenges is bigger than acrimonies. There is no need to
fight over what happened more than two decades ago.”
Other concerned Yoruba leaders have also called on the traditional
leaders to wade into the matter in the interest of the people.