Newsbreak: Crisis brews in Yoruba World Council, (YWC) as leaders remove Tola Adeniyi, Prof Anthony Kila, Dr Akingba others
Fresh crisis is brewing in the newly formed Yoruba World Congress, (YWC) as the group today announced the suspension of its key leaders.
Those suspended from the elite Executive Council were Chief Tola Adeniyi, Prof Anthony Kila, Dr Amos Akingba, Solagbade Popoola and three other key officials who incidentally are the founding members of the YWC. The suspension of Dr Akingba came as a surprise to many given his pedigree as one of the finest and long standing supporters of Yoruba self determination campaign.
The YWC group has been hit by internal divisions with some suspecting that state agents may have penetrated the group. But another source said allegations of state infiltration is a red-herring adding that some of those suspended from the Executive Council were reknown for their steadfast tradition in the Yoruba renaissance campaign.
A source who does not wish to be named said it was difficult to determine who are really working for the state but that the fact that the “YWC is in a big crisis is not in doubt.”
The YWC had emerged as a leading global group for Yoruba self determination however, some critics are deeply concerned about what appears its loose structure, lack of clear ideaological content and overbearing overt activities making the organisation to be vulnerable to all manners of characters, especially agent provocateur, with different, sometimes mischievious motives.
Sources told Irohinoodua that the leader of the Yoruba World Congress, YWC, Professor ‘Banji Akintoye called a meeting of the 16 member leadership Council of the organisation for today, 25th August, 2020 at the Lagos international Secretariat of the organisation.
The meeting commenced with all members except four members, namely Dr. Amos Akingba, Akogun Tola Adeniyi, Prof. Anthony Kila and Mr. Solagbade Popoola who, though were present within the premises, chose not to attend the meeting.
The meeting in a statement signed by Prof. Banji Akintoye; Prof Ezekiel Ogundowole; Ass. Prof. Wale Adeniran; Env. Kunle Adesokan; Otunba Sade Olukoya;Chief Imam Yoruba, Sheik Abdulraheem; Mr. Akin Adejuwon; Akinola George and Mrs. Bunmi Abidogun, Pastor Olusegun Bankole removed the founding members.
Information reaching Irohinoodua stated that the leader made five entreaties, four at the beginning of the meeting, and one at the end, to rationally include them in the meeting.
The source said “All these attempts unfortunately failed.
The Leadership Council of the Yoruba World Congress then resolved to remove from their protem executive positions with immediate effect.
The Council said the listed members will continue to remain floor members of the Yoruba World Congress (YWC), if they so wish.
It added “All materials, monies and paraphernalia of the organisation in the possession of the above former officials should be handed over to the Leadership Council of the YWC with immediate effect.”
The removal is pending the official elections to nominate and elect the substantive leaders to lead the YWC into the future, the remaining members of the Leadership Council shall continue to steer the affairs of the organisation under the able leadership of Prof. Banji Akintoye.”