*Shelve idea of Nigeria’s break up – Yoruba Monarch
By KEMI KASUMU
The Alake of Egba Land, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has asked Nigerians regardless of triba, political or religious afflictions to work together for the overall development of Nigeria, warning against calls for the country’s breakup.
Oba Gbadebo, a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, spoke when the national leadership of the National Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) paid a courtesy visit to his palace in Ake, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on Saturday.
The traditional ruler appealed to those calling for the secession of Nigeria to shelve the idea.
“If Nigeria failed as a country, the entire black race has failed,’’ he said.
The Egba monarch spoke barely 24 hours after the Iwo, Osun State, South West people of Nigeria rose in solidarity rally for One Nigeria Friday, blessed by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi.
The DEFENDER had reported earlier that the Iwo people made history being the first Yoruba community to boldly challenge Sunday Igboho and co over their declaration of Yoruba nation from Nigeria. Igboho had said Yoruba Land was no longer part of Nigeria, a statement that raised the anger of many iver why government and Inspector General of Police continue to make him feel untouchable.
The king noted that Nigeria could not afford to go through a crisis, saying that it was important to continue to love one another and live as one big family.
“Nigerians, wherever we go, we must see ourselves as nationals of the same country, people of the same blood.
“We must work together to make Nigeria, Nigeria must not fail; if Nigeria fails, the black race has failed and may it never happened.’’
Gbadebo commended the national president of the association for revolutionising the nation’s road transport sector.
Earlier in his address, Maitakobi said that the association had concluded plans to inject new buses into the nation’s road transport sector to aid the easy movement of passengers from one point to another.
He said that members of the association had been carrying out their activities in line with the rules and regulations of the country.
Maitakobi used the opportunity of the visit to announce the award of Grand Patron of the association to Oba Gbadebo.
He said the honour was in recognition of the royal father’s support for RTEAN.
The national president had earlier commissioned a multimillion naira mosque, built on the premises of the RTEAN secretariat in Abeokuta by the administration of the state chairman of the association Alhaji Titilayo.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the Maitakobi was accompanied to the palace by Akibu.
The visit to the Alake was part of activities marking the one year anniversary of Akibu as the state chairman of RTEAN in the state.
