Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajumobi (Oyo) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) on Thursday renewed calls for stronger ties among the Yoruba-speaking people of the country.
They were also joined in the calls by other eminent Yoruba leaders at the Tribute Day organised by the Afenifere Group in honour of the deceased Afenifere leader, Pa Olanihun Ajayi, at his residence in Ishara-Remo, Ogun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajayi died in Lagos on November 4, at the age of 91.
Amosun said that the Yoruba people were not acting like one united people and not speaking with one voice on issues of common interest.
The governor said that despite their different political leanings, the Yoruba people could still be united and speak as a group.
“I feel pained when we Yoruba antagonise ourselves and speak to malign our characters.
“We must work together to strengthen understanding and co-operation among ourselves,” he said.
Also, Gov. Abiola Ajumobi of Oyo State in his remarks called on the leadership of Afenifere to step up measures at re-uniting the Yoruba people to avoid marginalisation.
Similarly, Gov Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, however, stressed that what was needed by the Yoruba people was not a blanket unity but a qualified and quality unity.
The other leaders of the Afenifere Group who spoke at the event also stressed the need for increased co-operation among the Yoruba people.
They said that Ajayi, until his death, continued to fight for the oneness of the race.
The National Leader of the Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, said that Ajayi in his last days pushed so hard that the Yoruba race should rebuild its space and forge the kindred spirit again.
“It was a vision we shared together and a quest we have to see through to make him a fulfilled man and ensured that his labour while on earth was not in vain,” he added.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo described the late Olanihun Ajayi as one of the few disciples of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who kept the vision of the late sage about an independent united Nigeria under an undiluted federal system. (NAN)