A group of prominent Yoruba leaders, professionals, and activists has established the Omo Oduduwa Collective, a platform uniting Yoruba individuals from academia, business, professions, public service, and culture. Their shared mission is to shape the future of Yorubaland and Nigeria. This announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday in Lagos, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The statement was jointly signed by Convener Prof. Akinyemi Onigbinde, Secretary Kazeem Olasupo, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Dele Farotimi, Dr. Adeolu Oyekan, Dr. Olasunkanmi Olapeju, Samuel Adebisi, and Kayode Ogundamisi.
Call to Conscience and Justice
The conveners, in a statement titled “Omo Oduduwa Collective: A Call to Conscience, Justice and National Renewal,” explained that the group was formed by concerned Yoruba men and women dedicated to the future of Yorubaland and Nigeria. They emphasized that the collective emerged from a profound sense of historical responsibility and a conviction that Nigeria has reached a critical juncture where citizens must openly discuss the nation's state and the values needed to shape its future.
Historical Values and Current Concerns
The group noted that the Yoruba people have historically been respected for their commitment to truth, education, democratic engagement, accountability, and social progress. They highlighted that criticism has traditionally been regarded as essential for ensuring responsible leadership. However, they expressed concern over the erosion of these values due to a political culture characterized by opportunism, intolerance of dissent, ethnic chauvinism, and the normalization of unaccountable power.
The collective criticized attempts to portray criticism of government policies as hostility toward the Yoruba people, stating that such a stance contradicts Yoruba history and political culture, which encourage independent thinking and robust debate.
Accountability and Economic Hardship
While acknowledging that many of Nigeria’s challenges predate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the group maintained that governments must be held accountable for their policy choices and their impact on citizens. They noted that millions of Nigerians continue to face severe economic hardship, including rising living costs, declining purchasing power, food insecurity, unemployment, and 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,” the statement read, adding that economic policies should be assessed by their effect on ordinary people’s lives.
Call for Reforms
The collective urged political leaders to prioritize addressing Nigeria’s challenges rather than focusing on electoral politics. They called for constitutional restructuring, genuine federalism, devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, and greater autonomy for states as essential measures for national stability and development. Additionally, they advocated for reforms to the country’s security architecture, including the establishment of constitutionally regulated state police structures to complement existing federal security agencies in tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
The group urged all levels of government to adopt policies that create jobs, support businesses, stimulate production, and restore hope among young Nigerians. They also expressed concern over the growing disconnect between citizens' hardships and public officials' conduct, calling for greater empathy, fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability in governance.
Anti-Corruption and Independence
The collective urged anti-corruption agencies to pursue corruption cases impartially and without political considerations. They stressed that the group is neither a political party nor an ethnic pressure group, insisting that its objective is to promote a Nigeria founded on justice, fairness, competence, accountability, and respect for diversity.
According to the statement, the platform will focus on reflection, dialogue, advocacy, research, and civic engagement while working to defend democratic values and strengthen ethical standards in public life.
