A former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose has advised president-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to accommodate opposition politicians and use his position to unite all Yoruba irrespective of political affiliations.
Fayose gave the advice while featuring on Situation Room, an interview programme on Ibadan-based Fresh FM 105.9 on Monday.
When asked to set agenda for Tinubu, Fayose declined, saying the former Lagos Governor has always aspired to be President and should have a good agenda for the country.
He, however, pointed out that as a Yoruba leader elected president, he should ensure that all Yoruba come together, irrespective of differences to speak in one voice on the development of Yoruba land.
He added that Tinubu should also assemble teams that will include opposition members that will develop ideas and programmes that will move the country forward.
His words: “One thing I would like to say to Asiwaju, and this one is personal to me as a Yoruba man, is that the Yoruba nation needs to be re-ordered.
“Tinubu should not be the president of APC in the South-West. He should be the president and father of Yoruba nation and bring us all together.
“After the demise of most of these leaders, things will go bad [in Yorubaland]. One of the legacies Asiwaju should leave is to rally the Yoruba people and bring us together, draw everybody together.
“When he is making appointments and he wants it only for APC members, he will fail. He should invite members of the opposition and draw everybody close and listen to us on how the Yoruba nation can come together.
” The Yoruba nation has lost it. We are badly balkanised and divided. Because Asiwaju is a Yoruba man, he must bring the Yoruba people together. We are angry and that is why you see the agitation for Yoruba nation.
“But they have given us a Yoruba president now. He has a lot to do. Oduduwa Republic cannot happen. Arewa Republic cannot happen and Igbo or Biafra Republic cannot happen. It is a sheer waste of time.
“We have gone far in the day to call for division. How do we share our debt? How do we share those things? So, let’s stop deceiving ourselves and stop creating tension. Already, there is tension in the East, North, South and West. Asiwaju, God will help you. Thank God you were elected as president.
“So, remember that if you don’t put the Yoruba nation together, history will not be kind to you. This Yoruba nation must be united going forward under your leadership. Put us together. Get us busy in Yorubaland. Don’t be president of APC, if you do that, your case will be worse than that of Olusegun Obasanjo.”
