JOINT MURIC/OPC-R PRESS CONFERENCE ON 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AS IT AFFECTS THE YORUBA PEOPLE HELD AT THE OPC-R SECRETARIAT, ISHERI, LAGOS ON TUESD

JOINT MURIC/OPC-R PRESS CONFERENCE ON 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AS IT AFFECTS THE YORUBA PEOPLE HELD AT THE OPC-R SECRETARIAT, ISHERI, LAGOS ON TUESDAY, 20TH DECEMBER, 2022.

Chief Francis Oludare Adesope, president, the Reformed Oodua People's Congress (OPC-R),

Members of the OPC-R

Members of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

Greatest Muricians! Greatest Muricians!!

Leaders and members of organisations here present

Gentlemen of the Press

As-Salaam alaykunm wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu.

I welcome you all to this joint MURIC/OPC-Reformed press conference.

The rationale for the press conference is the need to sensitise the South West concerning the coming 2023 presidential election in which a bona fide Yoruba candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a major contestant.

This is not the first time MURIC will be collaborating with the OPC-Reformed. We held a similar exercise on 9th September, 2020 to diffuse tension in Yorubaland and to make peace reign ( https://dailypost-ng.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/dailypost.ng/2020/09/09/muric-it-is-wrong-to-be-fighting-your-kinsmen-opc-tells-yorubas/).

It is also on record that the late OPC leader, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, collaborated with MURIC during his lifetime. He attended the interfaith symposium organised by MURIC at the University of Lagos about 20 years ago. He was one of the speakers at the event.

We are indeed very happy to be associated with the OPC-Reformed under the able leadership of Chief Francis Oludare Adesope. We will continue to Forster this friendship because it is promoting cordial relationship among Muslims, Christians and traditionalists for overall peace and security in Yorubaland and Nigeria in general.

2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION :

It is our belief that the Yoruba has every reason to support their kinsman, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, being the most eminently qualified among all the candidates.

It is also our submission that all issues of Yoruba separatist agitation will be addressed and resolved if a Yoruba man emerges as president come 2023. We have no doubt that those complaining of marginalisation of Yorubaland are most likely to give a son of the soil listening ears once Tinubu becomes president.

It is in this regard that we are calling on the Yoruba to give peace and unity a chance by rallying behind their son, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

We remind the Yorubas of the lyrics of the late Hubert Ogunde song, Yoruba Ronu, i.e.

Yorubas should reflect, 'Ro, ro, ro, Yoruba ronu o. Yoruba yo yo yo bi ina ale, Yoruba ru, ru, ru bi omi okun, Yoruba baba ni baba nse.

Ro, ro, ro, Yoruba ronu o.'

The North has been in power for eight years. It will give the North almost 20 year rule if another Northerner becomes president again. We must vote for Tinubu in order to avoid that predicament. Remember that Ogunde said 'Ori ki mai buru titi ko pogun odun...' (One should not remain unlucky for 20 years). It is now the turn of the South and a highly competent Yoruba politician has succeeded in winning the presidential primaries.

'Awa lo kan. E gbe kini yi wa'. We must not allow this golden opportunity to slip past us. We missed it in the days of our great leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. We missed it in the days of Chief M. K O. Abiola. We must get it right this time. It will be a monumental mistake for the Yorubas to reject Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is our son. He has the pedigree. His record is unbeaten and the fact that Lagos is the Makkah of all Nigerians today is enough proof of his competence.

MURIC AND THE YORUBA PEOPLE :

We are constrained to affirm that our organization is prepared to work hand in hand with all tribes in the country. MURIC is a multi-ethnic organisation and we will never work against any tribe.

The allegation leveled against MURIC in certain quarters particularly in publications of Alaroye newspaper that MURIC is an enemy of the Yoruba people is false and this joint press conference with the OPC-Reformed is a clear evidence that MURIC is a friend of the Yoruba People, not an enemy. It is the demand of MURIC for the fundamental human rights of Muslims in Yorubaland that some people mischievously interprete as anti-Yoruba stand. This is wrong and misleading.

We appeal to separatists groups who are demanding the creation of a Yoruba nation out of the present entity to give peace a chance as we are certain that issues at stake would have been covered by the time Tinubu occupies Aso Rock.

INTEGRATE OPC INTO AMOTEKUN CORP :

It is well known that it was the OPC that saved the South West from the constant attacks of armed robbers. They boldly confronted armed criminals and they were able to subdue them particularly between 1985 and 2005. They were not paid for their services and many members of the OPC died while confronting the hoodlums.

Unfortunately the various governments of the South West forgot the OPC when they established an official security outfit called Amotekun. MURIC declares that this is unfair.

We call on governments in the South West to review their recruitment method into Amotekun with a view to integrating original OPC members from different factions (Fasehun, Gani Adams and OPC-Reformed under Chief Francis Oludare Adesope). This will strengthen the security of Yorubaland. Government should not insist on educational qualification alone.

Greatest Muricians! Greatest Muricians!!

There is victory for us

In the struggle for our rights

There's victory for us...

When I remember Awolowo my eye run away me oooooo

Aye, aye, my eye run away me oooooo

When I remember MKO my eye run away me oooooo

MUSO! MUSO!! MUSO OOO!!!

GIDIGBO! GIDIGBO!! GIDIGBO OOOO!!!

YEE YEEEEEE!!!

My dear friend, Chief Francis Oludare Adesope, President, OPC-R, distinguished members, Gentlemen of the press, thank you for listening. Allah bless you all.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)