Yoruba should be wary of Sanusi – Group warns

By Olusesan Laoye 

Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria have been called upon to avoid jumping into conclusion and romancing the  deposed Emir of  kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as according to it, it is too early to think that he would protect the interests of the Yoruba nation because he has decided to take refuge in their land

The group, Yoruba United Front, which stated this in a statement by its National President, Alhaji Raimi Ali and National Secretary, Deacon Samuel Aderanti, said it was surprised that Sanusi who had earlier declared the Yoruba as the problem of Nigeria would seek asylum in Lagos.

The group pointed out that at this stage, and with what is being experienced in the Southwest now, there was need to be careful  about those who may want to use or take the advantage  of the hospitality of the people in Yoruba land for their selfish interests.

The group therefore  called on the leaders and those who have started fratanising with the deposed Emir to be wary of him in view of his antecedents and his past views about Yoruba people, which according it, showed  him as an ethnic supremacist with little regard for Yoruba people.

The group said: “From what we know of him and  his past utterances, the deposed  Emir could best  be described as a man who does not like  the Yoruba people  and he cannot turn overnight  when he is in crisis turn to be their  friend. That is why we have to be wary of him at this crucial period when the people of the Southwest is struggling to find its bearing.

“We should not be deceived or have something or someone  to distract  our attention from our set goals and mission  to move forward as a determined people  in Nigeria ”

The Group warned Yoruba leaders and politicians to be wary of the antics of Sanusi saying he has a mission to achieve hence his choice of Lagos

“What does Sanusi really want? That is the question every right thinking Yoruba person should be asking. And why is he taking Yoruba land as a place of refuge now that he has problem with his kinsmen,” the group said.

“The Yoruba people will never forget the diatribes of Sanusi who excoriated the icons of Oduduwa land in a 1999 speech where he described the entire Yoruba leadership as an ‘Area Boy ‘  institution.”

“He lambasted Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other revered  Yoruba leaders in petty, bitter, tribalistic usages. He even claimed that Alhaji Shehu Shagari was overthrown in 1983 because Chief Awolowo lost the presidency!”

“It is rather ironic, sickening and absolutely unacceptable that this same Sanusi will chose the Yoruba heartland which he once condemned in the most violent language as a place of succor when his own people have disowned him. We urge our people to be wary of this man whose agenda and purpose are puzzling and dubious. “

“We hereby warn Yoruba leaders not to allow Sanusi who is an ethnic bigot to systematically build a Fulani camp in Lagos. We should be wary and ask him what exactly he wants in Yoruba land.

“Those Yoruba lackeys rushing to visit him either in form of old school students association or whatever form should  remember Sansui’s past , his  hatred of anything Yoruba and  should realize that  Sanusi is a rabid, radical Islamist and should not be treated as a pan Nigerian patriot, “ the Group said.