By Dapo Akinrefon

Lagos—It is too early to say that the Yoruba have lost out from the All Progressives Congress, APC Federal Government they helped to enthrone, leaders of the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG have said.

Speaking during a courtesy call on Vanguard, the ARG leaders rebuffed insinuations that the failure to enthrone Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker of the House of Representatives would cast a shadow on the imprint of the Yoruba nation on the new administration.

The ARG delegation, led by its secretary general, Mr. Ayo Afolabi included soccer maestro, Segun Odegbami, executive director of The Yoruba Academy, Dr Ade Adeagbo, Professor Anthony Onipede and ARG programme officer, Mr. Segun Balogun.

Affirming that the issues in contention would not diminish the Yoruba, Afolabi said:

“We know the political leaders in Yoruba land are up to the challenges of the politics at play.”

Odegbami, who is also coordinator of the ARG in Ogun State, speaking in the same vein said: “It is too early in the day to say the Yoruba have lost out. It is not a sprint event, it is a marathon and when you start a marathon, those who sprint out the first, are usually first to get tired.”

Dr. Adeagbo in his contribution noted the salutary role of the Yoruba Academy in laying the intellectual framework for the Yoruba Agenda that is at the heart of the reintegration plans for the people of the Southwest.

He said that the agenda has been crystallised in the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN, a programme the delegation claimed would eventually encapsulate the all the peoples of the former Western Nigeria.

Also speaking on the occasion, Prof. Onipede noted how the Yoruba had in the past catalysed developments across the country saying that the healthy competitive spirit among other geopolitical zones ended up positively pushing the nation forward.