No more than 130 pan-Yoruba groups have concluded plans to discuss the state of the nation.
Leaders from civil rights and community-based organisations from Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Delta and Edo states will be in attendance.
They are set to meet in Lagos on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at a summit themed: ‘Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria: The Role of Non-state Actors.’
The gathering, according to its organisers, is expected to draw some 1,500 participants including but not limited to the media, professional groups and representatives of the South-West state governors among others.
General Secretary of the groups, Mr Popoola Ajayi, in a statement, said: “Leaders of Yoruba associations in West African Coast and Northern, Middle Belt and South Eastern Nigeria will be attending the event. Nigeria is passing through a critical moment in its history. As you may be aware, the AYDM is the largest coalition of Pan Yoruba groups made up of 130 coalition members drawn from community-based, artisan and professional groups.
“AYDM coalition members include but are not limited to South West Professional, (SOWPROF); O’odua Peoples Congress, (OPC); Agbekoya; South-West Farmers Forum,(SWFAF); United Itsekiri Peoples Congress, (UIPC); ANAMMACO, representing Okada Riders in the South West; South West Students Coalition, (SWSC); O’odua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC); Yoruba Community Association in Northern Nigeria, (YOCANN); Ilaje Peoples Assembly; Igbimo Omo Oodua in Diaspora, Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, (NATA), with some 5million registered members of mechanics established in 1953; Covenant Group of South-West Professionals (SOWPROF); Association of Yoruba Communities in West Africa (AYOCWA); Yoruba Artisan and Traders Association, (NATA); O’odua International Democratic Movement, (OIDEM); O’odua Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group,(OIDEM) among many others.”
(Vanguard)