Nigeria not working, let’s retrace our steps — Akintoye

Yoruba Leader, Prof. Banji Akintoye, has said Nigeria is not working for the people and called for a retracing of steps to be able to come up with a clear, fair and effective country. Akintoye also called for a sober reflection on the situation of things in the country, saying the country is not meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

He spoke in Lagos yesterday during a surprise party organised to mark his 85th birthday by the Yoruba World Congress in Lagos. In a statement by the Secretary of the Congress, Prof. Anthony Kila, made available to our correspondent, Akintoye decried a situation whereby a 25-year-old Nigerian had a brighter and better prospect 65 years ago than someone of that age now. “We should rethink this Nigeria. The way it now does not seem to be for a good purpose, we need to change things. We must have sober reflection devoid of partisan affliction and retrace our steps to where we were before now. Do we need to ask ourselves who is this country working for? We need to review how we wish to live together as a people in order to come up with a clear, fair and effective country. ” The country is not working for the Yoruba people. It is not reflecting the Omoluabi principle that makes up an important part of the Yoruba essence. It is said that our youths now face a rather bleak future. That is unacceptable and we must rediscover our Omoluabi principle. “Look at the state of insecurity in Nigeria. Consider the prospect of our youths, health care. People are living in abject poverty. I want us to have a sober reflection on the situation in Nigeria. People are sad and unsafe. The future is also not looking bright for a lot of young people.