Thirty-one years after the death of the late sage and foremost Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nigeria’s frontline farmers group and the first human rights organization in Nigeria, Agbekoya Farmers Association said it is currently searching for his replacement.
A press statement made available to the Pacesetter News by the National Publicity Secretary of Agbekoya, Chief Bandele Olatunji said the Yoruba people are still missing their leader till date.
He said the group would be celebrating its 80years Anniversary of its existence as the first farmer’s group in Nigeria.
Olatunji also stated that the Agbekoya has thrown its weight behind the statement made by the Ooni of Ife, Oonirisa Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, recently that the Yoruba’s are still searching for Awolowo’s replacement as the leader of Yoruba people.
He said the President General of Agbekoya (Worldwide), Chief Kamoru Okikiola re-echoed the statement that the Yoruba people are still searching for a replacement of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was the Premier of Defunct Western Region, and the leader of the Yoruba people, in his welcome address delivered by him at the 80th Anniversary Ceremony of Agbekoya Farmers Association and the book launch of a special book written by Chief Olatunji Bandele on the History and the Socio-economic contributions of Agbekoya to Yoruba land, which was launched by His Imperial Majesty, Oonirisa Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II Ooni of Ile-Ife, in his palace to commerate the 80th Year Anniversary of Agbekoya, last week-end.
He recalled that Chief Awolowo was installed the Life patron of Agbekoya in 1957, after the death of Olubadan Abass Aleshinloye who was the first life Patron of Agbekoya.
Olatunji paid glorious tribute to Chief Awolowo as the premier of the Western Region, who realized the importance of Agriculture in food security, employment generation, foreign exchange earnings and poverty eradication; hence he mobilized the government resources to harness and harmonise the agricultural potentials of the region, and also encouraged Farmers to contribute their quota.
The President General of Agbekoya, Chief Okikiola, called on politicians and Yoruba leaders who want to step into the shoes of Chief Awolowo, to endeavor to emulate and embrace the leadership qualities and political ideology of the late sage.
He finally warned Southwest politicians and Yoruba Leaders who want to sell Yoruba people for their own political selfish interest during the 2019 elections to be careful, because Agbekoya is keenly watching them and we will not spare them this time around.
He said “Agbekoya is keenly watching and monitoring Southwest politicians, Yoruba leaders who want to sell Yoruba people for their own selfish political gains to desist from this unpatriotic act. Agbekoya is ready to defend the interest of Yoruba land and we are ready to deal accordingly with all these self acclaimed Yoruba Leaders.”
