The Egbe Omo Yoruba North America & Canada is in disarray over invitations extended to Governor Alao Akala, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Speaker Dimeji Bankole and the First Lady of Kwara State, Mrs Toyin Saraki, to attend this year's convention of the association in the United States. In email exchanges on the association's e-group, contributors to the release of a draft program that showed this invitation have complained that it is unacceptable for the leadership of the Egbe to use the platform to launder the image of discredited politicians who engage in massive corrupt practices which have impoverished or ruined millions of Yorubas in Nigeria.
Information gathered indicate that Governor Alao Akala paid about $20,000.00 and Gov. Saraki paid $15,000.00 to have been able to get the invitation to the convention while we are still investigating how much Senator Iyabo Obasajo Bello and Speaker Dimeji Bankole paid. An adhoc group has being formed that is mobilizing people to protest massively if these politicians show up at the convention in Missouri. The group would also be writing letters to other invited guests including the Governor of the host State-Mr. Jay Nixon of Missouri, Dr. Fúnmi Olopade, Dr. Folakemi Odedina, Dr. Olayiwola Olagbegi, Dr. Yemi Badero who was once honored by the US congress and inform them "of the shade of characters they would be associating with at the convention". We understand that they are making a compilation of all Nigerian media reports on Alao Akala, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and others to be placed in corres pondence with the guests.
In his contribution, Mr. Bukola Oreofe wondered why “all the noble ideas and potentials of an important rendezvous as a convention be placed in the soiled hands of discredited politicians. Alao Akala destroyed the statue of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and replaced it with an unknown soldier (Chief Awolowo would be rolling in his grave over the Egbe's betrayal through this invitation), spent obscene amount of money (reportedly #100m) for his daughter's wedding, was fired as a police officer, Oyo State is in the worst state ever etc etc. Iyabo Obasanjo Bello aka Mrs Damilola Akinlawon has been fingered in a lot of corrupt practices one of which was the #3.5b Austrian company contract, another is the Ministry of health's unspent funds which led to the dismissal of Mrs Adenike Grange etc etc."
Another contributor, Mr. Dele Alade, was categorical that "there shall no longer be free pass, anywhere in the USA, for any Yoruba man or woman of their sorts. Our people (Yoruba) are suffering in their millions back home because of the atrocities of people like Akala, Oyinlola, Iyabo, her father and others. We shall confront, challenge and embarrass them by all means possible, even physically, if they should show up at any event planned for the convention. If they had given anything in exchange for these favors to launder their images, it's better such is returned. We will not allow this Egbe to be their platform. Most members of this Egbe are progressives and decent people". Also, a declared Vice Presidential candidate at the forthcoming convention, Mr. Olaniyi Oladapo, stated: "Let it be on record that people like Alao Akala, Iyabo Obasanjo, Dimeji Bankole, Baba Gana Kimi, etc, etc, are not the kind of people we should invite to come and insult us. Enough is enough!
The President of the Egbe, Mr. Adeola Odusanya, and the Secretary, Mr. Dapo Odulami, are reported to be the brains behind the invitations that are threatening to tear the association apart and scuttle this year's convention. A majority of the members are angered and opposed to the invitations, which they have tagged as a sell-out. From statements by various members on the e-group, they regard this development as what happens when people raise their selfish agenda above the integrity of the association.
The complainants say the officials are known to enjoy cozying up to the likes of Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, who is currently embroiled in a blood-oath scandal, Olagunsoye Oyinlola etc. They say Mr. Odusanya and Mr. Odulami have both attempted to defend the invitation to the discredited politicians by stating that it would afford members of the association to "ask the politicians questions". This excuse has being waved off as “hollow,” and that it is a paid job intended to rehabilitate the discredited politicians.
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