Egbé Omo Yoruba, North America (Egbé) held its 13 th Annual Yoruba National Convention, in the historical City of Atlanta, Georgia United States of America this last weekend. At the general assembly, the opening address was given by the National President Làsísì Ògúnmolá Mohammed after which the National General Secretary, Dr. Olúgbémiga Ekúndayò gave the State of the Egbé Address. Also at the general assembly, Dr. Olá Kassim, President of the Nigerians In Diasporas Organization (NIDO) and representative of the Diaspora Nigerians at the National Confab gave a report to the delegates. Professor Christopher Odétúndé a Yorùbá Patriot and sub-political commentator from Houston, Texas then proceeded to give a workshop on the convention theme "Getting the Next Generation Ready for the Task Ahead." Other speakers at the convention included, Chief Àlàó Adédayò, Managing Editor Aláròyé Newspaper and Ògbéni Yínka Òdúmákin, Administrative Secretary of Afénifére, Nigeria.

The convention was graced by over 400 delegates from all over the world. the Keynote Speaker at the convention was the high performing Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, accompanied by some member of his cabinets, also in attendance was the Lagos State Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, who stood in for the Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. The highlights of the three days conventions was the elections of New Officers to run the affairs of the Egbe for the next two years, at the end of the electoral exercise Mr. Adeola Odusanya, from Tampa-Bay Chapter, was elected as President, Mr Dapo Odunlami, from Oakland, CA , Chapter was elected unopposed as General Secretary, and after what seems to be a hotly contested election, Mr Bolaji Olaribigbe, from Jacksonville, FL Chapter, was elected the Secretary of Public Affairs, amongst other officer. Other highlights of the convention was the presentation of the Odua Excellence Award for Governance to Otunba Gbenga Daniel for his outstanding achievement in turning around the fortune of Ogun State, since coming into office in 2003. While thanking you in anticipation of your expected cooporation, in giving this communique the needed attention widest dissemination through your media, we look forward to working with you in propagating the objectives and mission of our great Egbe towards the upward movement of the Yoruba speaking population all over the world.

Also during the convention, the Egbé had deliberations after which a new National Executive Committee was elected. Members of the new Executive Committee are, Adéolá Òdúsànyà (President), Òyébòdé Awòrunse (Vice President), Oládàpò Odúnlámì (General Secretary), Bólájí Oláríbigbé (Secretary of Public Affairs) Monílólá Tènabè (Treasurer), Olátórera Ògúnsan (Financial Secretary), Ìdòwú Akínléye (Assistant General Secretary), Dípò Ògúnrìndé (Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs), and the Ex-officio is now Làsísì Ògúnmolá Mohammed.

After deliberations from the weekend long event, the Egbe observed:

1. With dismay, the federal government’s continued disregard to for the rule of law regarding its continued withholding of Lagos State’s monetary allocations. The Egbé noted that the federal government’s demand for fresh elections into local government in the State as a condition for releasing its rightfully due allocations is a violation of Supreme Court ruling on the issue. The Egbé therefore repeats its call for regional government as a panacea for sustainable development;
2. With trepidation, that there is a need for the government to do more than privatize the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA);;
3. With great perturbation, that majority of leadership changes in government parastatals are being targeted to displace the Yorùbá while replacing them with less qualified personnel from other parts of the country;;
4. With great interest, the issue of resource control which ended in a deadlock at the recently concluded National Confab, as one issue in which the South West has as legitimate claim;;
5. With great hope, that there is a need to continue to come together more than ever to celebrate achievements by the Yorùbá as well as to exploit our resources for the progress of our motherland; and;
6. With great concern the gradual degradation and pollution of the Yorùbá Language and the gradual elimination of Yorùbá as a standard course in all schools in the Yoruba land. As a result of the above observations, the Egbe therefore:

1. Appeals to the Obásanjó led Federal government, to release the over N33 billion in allocation revenue due to Lagos state without further delay and without condition;;
2. Propose that the energy sector of the Country be completely diversified and deregulated to allow individual States to issue licenses to Nigerians who can be independent power producers, distributors and marketers of power;;
3. Calls for a quick release of the report from the just concluded National Confab, so that most of the recommendations especially as relating to Nigerians in Diasporas can be immediately implemented;;
4. Requests that the Obásanjó administration cease immediately the trend of replacing well-qualified Yorùbá employed in the administration with less qualified and less experienced non-Yorùbá;;
5. Puts all private school administrators on notice that, it is law in all Yorùbá States that Yorùbá be taught as a standard course like English and Mathematics in all schools in Yorùbá land, and that The Egbé warns that those who violate the law violate Yorùbá hospitality and will therefore have themselves to blame for the consequences;;
6. Urges all Yorùbá everywhere in the world to speak, teach and communicate in Yorùbá to their children, friends and household at all times in order to ensure that the Yorùbá language does not become extinct like several other languages; and;
7. Advocates for the harnessing of all Yorùbá resources, be it natural or human any where in the world, for the actualization of an autonomous Yorùbá nation.

Signed,

Adéolá Òdúsànyà
National President, EOY
(813)-309-4850

Bólají Oláríbigbé
National Secretary, Public Affairs
(904) 612-8222

Egbe Omo Yoruba N. America & Canada Flag

Action Group Yoruba Flag

Send Comments To EOY  To Masterweb