By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA—The matriarch of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo dynasty, Mama H. I. D. Awolowo, has described Yoruba sons and daughters living in the North  as endangered species.

Speaking, in Yoruba, yesterday, at the general meeting of Yoruba Unity Forum, YUF, an umbrella body of all Yoruba socio-cultural organisations, at Ikenne, Ogun State, Awolowo’s widow, who is the Chairman of the forum, lamented the killings of non-natives in the northern part of the country.

She  canvassed urgent measures to ensure peaceful co-existence of Nigerians anywhere in the country and reiterated the need for the Yoruba to remain “united” and speak with one “voice,” on issues that affect them.

She  maintained that the  continued relevance of the race in the Nigerian project rested on the unity of its sons and daughters.

Former vice-chancellor,  University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Oyediran, who spoke on the need to embrace traditional values among the Yoruba, attributed what he described as decay in social values in the country to loss of traditional values which encapsulated in the concept of ‘’Omoluabi.”

At the meeting were vice-chairman of the forum, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Senator Anthony Adefuye, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor, Chief Olu Falae and Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, among others.

In a statement, YUF  urged President Goodluck Jonathan to address corruption and graft in the oil and gas sector and to also  accord Yoruba sons and daughters key positions in Federal Government’s institutions or establishments as other people from other regions.

A 50-member  committee comprising  Yoruba sons and daughters across the Southwest, with Bishop Gbonigi as chairman, was inaugurated as the  intellectual engine of the forum.