The Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will on Tuesday this week receive the Centenary Award being bestowed on him by pan Yoruba groups drawn from eight Yoruba speaking states of the federation.
The groups are under the auspices of the O’odua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC), an alliance of several Yoruba groups.The groups are bestowing the award in recognition of the role the governor has played in the promotion of Yoruba heritage. According to the spokesperson of the event, Dr Mathew Olurunyomi, the award is aimed at demonstrating the blood-bound relationship that exists between the Pan-Yoruba groups and Ogbeni Aregbesola. The groups expected at the event are drawn from Edo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Osun, Kwara, Kogi and the Itsekiri area of Delta state.
Map of Yoruba spoken towns.
It stated further that “this is embedded in the structure of the state itself and largely by her garrison laws. Within these stifling limitations, we express our gratitude to the Yoruba leaders that have made the best out of the grim situation. We salute the resoluteness to define the framework for the transformation of our people from a life of degradation to a life of hope.
The groups stated that Ogbeni Aregbesola has given the entire people in the South West the hope that we treasure, the price we wish to keep. As these tremendous transformation go on, there is a threat from reactionary people to bring us down. This is why all progressive movements in Yorubaland must rise to the occasion of strengthening the blood-bound solidarity that exists between us and genuine leaders like Ogbeni Aregbesola. It is not about him, but about us as a people. It is about our future and that of our long suffering children. It is also about the people of Nigeria who are genuinely desirous of a prosperous life which they have been continuously denied. Freedom and progress in Yorubaland, will no doubt, be a blessing to the entire people that live in Nigeria, since there will be crucial and useful lessons to learn.