The Secretary General of the Council of Yoruba Elders (CYE), Dr. Victor Taiwo has advised President Bola Tinubu and all past Nigeria rulers on the need to support the restructuring of the country and write their names in gold as heroes.
Taiwo, a pro-democrat and human rights defender, gave the advice on Thursday just as he blamed all the surviving leaders of the country of contributing to its woes during the launch of his three books and N100m fund raising held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The books launched are, ” Nigeria on Keg of gunpowder”, A Treaties For Peace In A Multi- Religious State” and “African Time, Black Man’s Tragedy”.
In his address at the occasion,themed: “At The Point of Candour “Taiwo said he decided to point accusing fingers on the past and present leadership of the country because of the roles they have played which have led the country to it’s present predicament.
His words “A handful of people have challenged me on why I decided to go for the rulers of yesterday who moulded our woes of today.”
“The surviving leaders of the country are General Dr. Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, General Muhammadu Buhari, and the reigning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
“At the point of candour sounds being hypocritical for the purpose of any ingratiation, each of them has contributed to the effects of misrule which is eating the country to death today.
“The principal offence of General Gowon was saying the problem of Nigeria was not money but how to spend it. We all know the effects today.”
“The principal offence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was saying the best candidate might not win the election. We all know the effects today.”
“The principal offence of General Ibrahim Babangida was the annulment of the June 12 election. We all know the effects today.”
“The principal offence of General Abdulsalami Abubakar was foisting on the country a constitution written by a clique of hand-picked people which was presented in the name of ‘We Nigerians’ We all know the effects today.”
“The principal offence of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was the non-implementation of the concluded 2014 CONFAB. We all know the effects today.”
“The principal offence of General Muhammadu Buhari was his absolute ineptitude at governance. We all know the effects today.”
“The principal offence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the unilateral removal of oil subsidy. We all know the effect today.”
“Why am I bold enough to say this to the hearing of the leaders who are expected to be in attendance either physically or by proxy.History can never be eroded by all the forces and hypocrisy in this world. Nobody has ever succeeded at that.”
“The leaders have all played such roles that mounted up to what the country suffers today. But there has always been a room for contrition and restitution since the days of the scriptures where the villain of yesterday could turn a hero of today.”
“This is the great opportunity I am now availing or overturning to them both individually and collectively by asking that they support the drive for the redemption of the country via this restructuring project so that those of us who have written negatively about them yesterday would be the same ones to re-write their history tomorrow as the proselytes who have turned the heroes of today, as the Sauls of yesterday who have turned the Pauls of today.
“Essentially our villains of yesterday could always be our angels and messiahs of today. This is my offer, supplication and expectation.” He said.
He vowed to commit the money raised at the book launch to the cause for which it is generated.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of the occasion and a former Justice of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice, Professor Mojeed Owoade described Dr Victor Taiwo as a prolific writer and an advocate of good governance.
He said the, the occasion also serve as
“It is not only Yorubas that are talking, these days at least, about restructuring. The problem is that there is an imbalance.”
“The structures are not right. Yorubas are asking for restructuring. Igbos are asking for restructuring. Some of the northerners are asking for restructuring.
“So we should put our heads together and say, if this will work, let us restructure. It is pure and simple.”
“Chief Emeka Anyaoku , said it all. He said, if we don’t restructure now, then we may not just have it forever. It is now that we should restructure.”
“Everybody is complaining. Everybody is complaining of being marginalized. Apparently because the federal government is taking too much and therefore there is no true federalism.Let us restructure and let there be true federalism,” he stated.
In their goodwill messages, Rev. Dr. Tola Osinubi, Chief Idowu komolafe and Major Rasak Salau (Rtd). commended the doggedness and courage of the author who they said deserves the support of all Yorubas to put things right in the country.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Yoruba World Assembly, Elder Dr.Taye Ayorinde, described the author as an enthusiastic and patriotic Nigerian who is committed to the restructuring project for the country to develop.
Elder Ayorinde who is also the Baale of Ekotedo, Ibadan called for support from Yoruba sons and daughters in actualisation of the restructuring agenda just as he described Dr Victor Taiwo as a man with many potentials that should be supported.