A group of prominent Yoruba intellectuals, professionals, and activists have announced the formation of the Omo Odùduwà Collective, a civic platform aimed at promoting accountability, democratic values, and national renewal in Nigeria.
The group, convened by Professor Akinyemi Onigbinde, includes former senator Babafemi Ojudu and human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi among its founding members. In a founding statement released Tuesday, the Collective described itself as a platform for “reflection, dialogue, advocacy, research, and civic engagement” rather than a political party.
The founders said the group emerged from growing concern over what they described as a political culture increasingly marked by “opportunism, intolerance of dissent, ethnic chauvinism, and the normalisation of unaccountable power.”
While acknowledging that many of Nigeria’s challenges predate the Tinubu administration, the group said this did not absolve the government of responsibility for its policy choices. They pointed to rising costs of living, food insecurity, unemployment, and declining purchasing power as urgent concerns requiring attention.
The Collective outlined three priority areas: constitutional restructuring toward genuine federalism, security sector reform, including state policing, and economic policies targeted at job creation and poverty reduction.
The group also pushed back against attempts to frame criticism of government as hostility toward the Yoruba people, arguing that robust debate and independent thinking have historically been central to Yoruba political culture.
“Our purpose is neither ethnic antagonism nor partisan opposition,” the statement read, adding that the group seeks “a Nigeria founded on justice, fairness, accountability, competence, and respect for diversity.”
Other founding signatories include Kazeem Olasupo, Dr Adeolu Oyekan, Dr Olasunkanmi Olapeju, Samuel Arinloye Adebisi, and Kayode Ogundamisi. #Securitynewsalert.com
