A Yoruba socio-cultural organization, the Yoruba World Congress (YWC), yesterday, called on the Yoruba to rescue Lagos State from “invasion.”
The spokesperson of the organization, Babatunde Tolase, stated this during a world press conference, held at the YWC headquarters, Yemetu Aladorin, Ibadan.
The YWC, which has been in existence since 1987 with General Alani Akinrinade as its first president, was founded with the aim of championing the cause of the Yoruba in Nigeria and globally.
Tolase said the call became important because of false information about the ownership of Nigeria’s commercial and economic capital.
He said: “From history, which can be verified, the first settler in Eko was the Awori, who came from Ile-Ife, the origin and ancestral home of the Yoruba. I do not want to dwell much on the history of Eko, because many famous historians and scholars have written about it Lagos.
“Our concern is the arrogation of ownership of Lagos by some people who are alien to the origin of Lagos. The Yoruba, in general, are very accommodating; therefore, the opportunity is given to all people from all walks of life to live in Lagos and thrive there.
“However, as concerned Yoruba, who have the duty and responsibility to promote and protect the historical and geographical integrity of Yoruba land, we find it appalling that a flight of people or tribes will come to lay our claims dear Lagos.
“We do not disturb our brothers and sisters from these tribes, but it is our duty to protect our land from external invasion.
“As we count down to the rescheduled governorship and House of Assembly elections on March 18, 2023, this brief is a clarion call to all Yoruba across the 10 states (Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta), residents of Lagos State, to reawaken awareness by exercising the franchise for the integrity of Yoruba land.
Tolase noted: “We have discovered that the current agitation is calculated to attack and take over, in a crooked way, the Yoruba economic center. As a Yoruba core, we want to confirm that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the preferred candidate endorsed by the YWC, and by extension, all Yoruba around the world.
“In this unusual and disturbing statement to a certain candidate by a tribe, which Lagosians have, for years, accommodated and allowed to develop as a plan to take over Yoruba land by force. We know that our greatness is taken for granted .But we ask and ask all Yoruba to stand tall to defend our homeland.