Onigbinde, Ojudu, Farotimi and Others Form Yoruba Group

Several prominent Nigerians have announced the formation of the Omo Odùduwà Collective, a platform bringing together Yoruba men and women from academia, business, the professions, public service, and culture. The group is united by a commitment to the future of Yorubaland and Nigeria.

The announcement was made in a joint statement signed on Tuesday in Lagos by the Convener, Prof. Akinyemi Onigbinde; Secretary, Mr. Kazeem Olasupo; Sen. Babafemi Ojudu; Mr. Dele Farotimi; Dr. Adeolu Oyekan; Dr. Olasunkanmi Olapeju; Mr. Samuel Adebisi; and Mr. Kayode Ogundamisi.

The Collective says it emerged from a deep sense of historical responsibility, believing that Nigeria has reached a critical moment when silence is no longer a virtue and citizens must speak honestly about the nation’s condition and the values that should guide its future.

It emphasizes that its purpose is neither ethnic antagonism nor partisan opposition. Instead, it seeks a Nigeria founded on justice, fairness, accountability, competence, and respect for diversity.

According to the founders, the Yoruba people have a duty to contribute to national renewal through principled and moral leadership rather than ethnic triumphalism.

The Omo Odùduwà Collective is not a political party; it is a platform for reflection, dialogue, advocacy, research, and civic engagement.

The group pledged to defend the ethical foundations of public life and to ensure that future generations inherit a society where truth, integrity, and justice outweigh power, expediency, or ethnic loyalty.

It stated: “For generations, the Yoruba people earned respect through their commitment to truth, education, democratic engagement, accountability, and social progress. Leaders were judged not by the praise they attracted but by the welfare they delivered. Criticism was not regarded as disloyalty but as a necessary instrument of accountability.”

“We are concerned that these values are increasingly being displaced by a political culture marked by opportunism, intolerance of dissent, ethnic chauvinism, and the normalization of unaccountable power. Equally troubling is the growing attempt to portray criticism of government as hostility to the Yoruba people. Such a position is contrary to Yoruba history and political culture, which have always encouraged robust debate and independent thinking.”

After closely observing President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the past three years, the group acknowledged that many of Nigeria’s challenges predate the current administration. “Millions of Nigerians today face severe economic hardship, rising costs of living, declining purchasing power, food insecurity, unemployment, and growing uncertainty about the future. The issue is not whether reforms are necessary. It is whether those reforms are pursued within a framework that places the welfare of citizens at its centre. Economic policies must be judged not only by statistics and projections but by their impact on human lives.”

As the nation approaches the 2027 electoral cycle, the Collective urges the political class to focus less on politics and more on rescuing the Nigerian state. “We believe urgent national consensus is required on a number of critical issues.”

The group calls for constitutional restructuring, arguing that Nigeria’s diversity cannot continue to be managed through excessive centralisation. Genuine federalism, devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, and greater autonomy for states are essential to national stability and progress.

It also highlights insecurity, noting that the current centralised security architecture has proved inadequate against the growing threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime. The Collective supports the establishment of constitutionally regulated state policing structures alongside broader investments in education, job creation, and economic inclusion.

On the economy, it urges the government to prioritise policies that create jobs, support businesses, stimulate production, and restore hope, especially among young Nigerians. “We are equally concerned by the widening disconnect between the suffering of citizens and the conduct of many public officials. At a time of widespread hardship, government must demonstrate empathy, fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability, and anti‑corruption agencies must be seen to pursue corruption at all levels without fear or favour.” (NAN)