•As Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide Gets New Constitution
Renowned historian, Prof. Banji Akintoye, has said that he will not allow bad elements to frustrate the aspiration of Yoruba nation agitators, expressing his determination to intensify effort on achieving it.
Prof. Akintoye’s words came just as the foremost Yoruba self-determination group, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, got a new constitution midwived by the Constitution review committee of the group.
The committee was constituted by the congress barely two and half months ago.
The statement signed by General Secretary (Interim),
Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Prince Kunle Adelakun Eruobodo, and entitled ‘Ilana signs constitution,’ read in part: “Akintoye vowed to continue Yoruba nation agitation and promised not to abandon Ilana Omo Oodua.”
It indicated that the Ilana Constitution Review Committee members, the group’s state coordinators and the Ilana Worldwide Interim Executive Council travelled to Cotonou, Republic of Benin on Friday, January 6 to see Prof. Akintoye.
According to the statement, the meeting was to present the newly-approved constitution by the group’s congress which held on Friday, December 30, 2022, at the Ilana Worldwide Secretariat and via zoom.
Among those who went o Cotonou to present the new constitution to Prof. Akintoye were the Ilana Concerned Members; the Diaspora Chapter Coordinators led by Barrister Funmi Soyemi; the Homeland State chapter’s Coordinators led by Chief Taofeek Olawale; the Ilana Interim Exco headed by its Chairman, Princess Tanimowo Okusaga; the General Secretary, Prince Kunle Adelakun Eruobodo and other stakeholders.
Also presented to him was a letter of rejection of Dr. Wale Adeniran as Ilana leader.
It was also said in the statement that the stakeholders rejected Prof. Akintoye’s resignation to pave way for Dr. Adeniran.
It read: “The method and approach being used are against the constitutional provisions of Ilana Omo Oodua. It is also against the collective interests and vision of Ilana.
“We categorically and unequivocally rejected the ascension of Dr. Adeniran due to the undemocratic process to lead Ilana Omo Oodua, most especially at this point in time when we need Baba Akintoye’s leadership more than ever before.”
It explained that delegates persuaded Prof. Akintoye to rescind his earlier decision to resign from his position as the Alana, stressing that “this decision was applauded by the delegates and general members of Ilana Worldwide.
Responding, Prof. Akintoye promised to stand by the truth, acknowledging the fact that there had been issues and divisions within the rank and file of Ilana group.
Also promising to do his best to reposition the organization, Prof Akintoye was quoted in the statement as saying that “we have only one Ilana secretariat and we must live in harmony and in cohesiveness for the cause we are fighting.”
Stressing that Yoruba nation must not die, Prof. Akintoye signed the new Ilana constitution as a new guiding principle of Ilana Omo Oodua.
“We are using this medium to inform the general public that Ilana Omo Oodua, led by Prof. Banji Akintoye will never abandon the Yoruba nation self determination struggle nor would it compromise its stand.
“We implore the media to be wary of the elements who are parading themselves as the official representative or spokesman for the Ilana. Ilana Omo Oodua will not be liable for any act, illegally committed by impostors,” the statement further read.
