The Yoruba are the dominant people of South West Nigeria. They are widely known for their sharp intellect, rich culture, sense of humour and long tradition of education and political organisation.
In the First and Second Republics, the Yoruba practised a largely regional form of politics.
Their focus was the development and protection of their region.
The dominant political party was the Action Group, led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. By the Second Republic, the Unity Party of Nigeria had emerged, and it swept all gubernatorial elections across the Yoruba states.
What made the Yoruba political system strong then was structure. Leadership was not accidental. Succession was deliberate.
The five South West governors met regularly, spoke with one voice and operated with a clear regional blueprint.
When Chief Awolowo passed on, leadership naturally shifted to Chief Lateef Jakande and the late Chief Bola Ige. After the assassination of Chief Bola Ige, the mantle fell on late Chief Abraham Adesanya, who continued from where his predecessor stopped.
Yoruba politics, at that time, always had a recognised leader and a unified voice. Bi a bá mọ ẹni tí a ń tẹ̀lé, a kì í ṣàṣìṣe ọ̀nà.
That unity began to weaken after the death of the last widely accepted leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya .
Leadership drifted into the hands of Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba. Both were committed Awoists and played crucial roles in transforming the Unity Party of Nigeria into the Alliance for Democracy. The AD was the last party that truly held the Yoruba together.
The emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State changed the balance. The party became polarised. Some leaders opposed his rise, while others, including Chief Bisi Akande, stood firmly by him.
Soon after, even Afenifere, the respected Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, was split into factions, one aligned with Tinubu and another led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
From that moment, Yoruba unity was torn apart. Till today, there is no single leader to whom South West governors collectively report. The old order collapsed, and nothing solid replaced it.
When Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola showed signs of parting ways with Asiwaju Tinubu, many believed it was an opportunity to revive a true regional platform like the AD or SDP. If that path had been taken, he would have attracted massive Yoruba support. It is clear that the people of the South West desire a regional party, a clear structure of succession, governors who speak with one voice, and a leadership ready to defend Yoruba land from external threats.
Unfortunately, that vision was not pursued. The deeper yearning of the Yoruba people was missed. What they seek is leadership that can confront insecurity, protect farmers, wives and children, and restore confidence in the land.
Chief Olu Falae once recounted how he was approached to head an interim government during the Babangida era, a proposal he firmly rejected. His refusal was rooted in honour and loyalty to the mandate of Chief MKO Abiola, whom he personally brought into the SDP. As he rightly said, inheriting another man’s stolen mandate was unacceptable where he came from.
Today, the APC dominates the South West, yet there is no clear structure for producing the next Yoruba political leader. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the undisputed political leader of the region. Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba are still alive, but regrettably, no clear succession plan exists. The same system that produced them has been abandoned.
As Chief Akande clocks 87, I wish him long life and good health. But this is also a moment of responsibility. The Yoruba house must be put in order. The next generation of leaders must be groomed deliberately.
It is not too late. The South West today lacks coordinated programmes, shared vision and regional direction, unlike what many of us grew up to witness.
From Lagos to Abeokuta, Ibadan to Osogbo, Ondo to Ekiti, and from Ilorin to Kogi, the cry for Yoruba unity is loud. Chief Bisi Akande, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must consciously prepare those who will inherit the affairs of Yoruba land when they are eventually called home.
They must be ready to answer to Chief Awolowo, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Bisi Onabanjo, Professor Ambrose Alli and Alhaji Lam Adesina when they meet once again.
The structures these great men built have been dismantled, yet those who benefited from them are still alive. That is both a privilege and a duty.
Whenever Asiwaju Tinubu visits Lagos from Abuja, all South West governors should endeavour to receive him together. He is not merely the political leader of Lagos, he is the political leader of the South West. Bi ẹni bá ṣe pé ìgbà rẹ̀ ni, wọ́n máa pè é.
We must not allow him to fight battles outside while leaving the home front unguarded.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola, Publisher of The Street Journal Newspaper, writes from Ibadan.
