Some Yoruba leaders across socio-political and advocacy groups have established Yoruba Parapo as a central platform for unity, consultation, and collective action.
The leaders reached this decision following extensive consultations on key challenges confronting the Southwest, including insecurity, economic uncertainty, political marginalisation, and constitutional concerns.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Dr. Olatunde Amusat, Protem Administrative Secretary of Yoruba Parapo, explained that the platform will provide a common ground for consultation, consensus-building, and coordinated action among Yoruba interest groups.
“The decision was unanimously adopted after several meetings attended by leaders and stakeholders drawn from a broad spectrum of Yoruba organisations,” Amusat said. “Participants carefully reviewed the challenges confronting the Yoruba nation and highlighted the need for a common platform that would enable Yoruba interests, aspirations, and concerns to be collectively articulated and effectively advanced.”
He noted that other major ethnic nationalities and regions in Nigeria have already established similar umbrella bodies for dialogue and collective engagement.
“Consequently, the leaders agreed that the time has come for the Yoruba people to establish a similar mechanism to aggregate diverse viewpoints and translate shared interests into coordinated action,” he added.
According to Amusat, Yoruba Parapo will focus on key areas such as security, economic development, regional cooperation, cultural preservation, constitutional restructuring, and the general welfare of the Yoruba people.
He clarified that affiliated organisations will retain their individual identities, leadership structures, philosophies, and operational independence.
“The platform is not intended to replace, subsume, or diminish existing organisations,” he emphasized. “Rather, it is designed to provide common ground for consultation, collaboration, consensus-building, and collective decision-making.”
Describing the current climate as a defining moment in Yoruba history, Amusat stressed that no single group, leader, or pressure organization can address these multi-faceted challenges alone.
To ensure broad representation and inclusiveness, member organisations will be represented in Yoruba Parapo’s highest decision-making body. Amusat extended an invitation to self-determination groups, socio-cultural organisations, traditional institutions, professional bodies, youth and women groups, religious leaders, intellectuals, and the diaspora to join and contribute their ideas, expertise, and resources.
Attendees at the meeting in Ibadan—who participated both physically and virtually—included Dr. Oriyomi Attey, Dr. Paul Bankole, Chief Banji Ayiloge, Ms. Olusola Ajetunmobi-Davies, Mr. Wale Adeoye, Mr. Sina Akinpelu, Mr. Kunle Adesokan, Chief Kolawole Ilori, Dr. Olu Omotoso, Dr. Bayo Oriire, Baba Omojola, Mr. Dipo Akinsiku, Dr. D.A. Aremu, and Dr. Kunle Amusat.
Amusat concluded by reaffirming that Yoruba Parapo remains committed to dialogue, peaceful engagement, democratic values, mutual respect, and securing a prosperous and dignified future for the Yoruba people.
