Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has come for those who have been saying one of APC National leaders and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now the leader of the Yoruba race, saying they know nothing about what they are talking about, and saying Awolowo passed the mantle to him is insulting and degrading. He said how can a name like that of Tinubu come up when we have the likes of Wole Soyinka, others who are more relevant in Yoruba land. He actually came for Tinubu in a way no one
That is part of the nonsense being peddled by the media. How can Tinubu be the leader of the Yoruba race? The background of Awolowo’s leadership was never because he was in government. It was his integrity and track record. Now, they are calling Tinubu the leader because he won an election. Is that the qualification for Yoruba leadership? There is no way you can compare Tinubu with Awolowo and I regard it as an insult. What is the knowledge of Tinubu? How many books has he published? Awolowo propounded theories and established philosophies such that a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Harold Wilson, said Awolowo was qualified to rule America. Even though Awolowo was the leader of the opposition, the then President, Shehu Shagari, honoured him with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic title despite the fact that the title is preserved only for Heads of State. That shows you the pedigree of Awolowo. What of the background of Awolowo? Can we say the same of Tinubu? Comparing Chief Obafemi Awolowo to Tinubu is bringing Yoruba leadership to the ground. When did Tinubu come into prominence? Awolowo fought colonialism for years. But because Tinubu just won an election, those he has put in positions are now shouting ‘leader’. All those calling Tinubu Yoruba leader are his creations. They are Tinubu apologists. They are the ones he made governors and appointed commissioners. No prominent, self-respecting Yoruba man will accept Tinubu as a leader. How can Tinubu be a leader in a country where Prof. Wole Soyinka and others are? We have bigger characters in Yoruba land, he said to Punch.