Ola Kassim
unread,Aug 10, 2025, 7:33:12 PMAug 10Sign in to reply to author
Sign in to forward
You do not have permission to delete messages in this group
Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message
to naijao...@googlegroups.com, Imperial, Ayo Ojutalayo, Gee Kay, Nebukadineze Adiele, Adebayo Kayode, reu...@yahoo.co.uk, RAJI TAJUDEEN, corporat...@googlegroups.com, naijao...@googlegroups.com, To: Adeniran Adeboye, Google Inc., Wharf Snake, Vin Modebelu, Williams Ishola, DIPO ENIOLA, NIANG YAKUBU JEROME, Philip Achusim, ALUKO Mobolaji, S.E Jerome Niang Yakubu P.E, Topcrest Topcrest, Agwunobi Chukwuma, Naijaintelectual, Johnson Anyadike, Wilson Iguade, naijain...@googlegrouproups.com, Igbokwe Joe, Nigerianobserver, Abraham Madu, Vincent Modebelu, Udoh Chris, Patriots Forum Nigerian, Williams Ishola, Naijaintellects, Harris Ukandu Ugo, H. Ibanga N., imperi...@yahoo.com, Stevek, OSAMEDE EDOSOMWAN, naija...@googlegroups.com, Akusobi Daniel, Vin Modebelu, Naija Talks, KOMOLAFE Abiodun, Vincent Adepoju Oluwatoyin, Alukoro Agbaye, Vin Modebelu, Ola Kassim, Dan Obi, BUSKA OLADOSU, S. Agwunobi Chuckwuma, Maigoro A. Jos, Dike Okey, aku...@icloud.com, Aginam O., Uche Stephen, Ola Kassim, via LOWER NIGER CONGRESS Okenwa R. Nwosu M.D.', Wale Adedayo, Osuji Ozodi, Williams Ishola, Toyin Adepoju, IKECHI NNAJI, Vincent Unachukwu, via Abraham Madu', Adebayo Femi, Onuorah Joseph, Nebukadineze, Eluemunor Tony, Dododawa, Leye Ige, Anyanwu Cyril, Rotimi Ogunsuyi, Collins Ezebuihe, Akinyemi Onigbinde, Ebohon John, Adeniyi Michael, Ogunbunmi Kayo, nkoyo...@yahoo.com, A. Gml, adead...@yahoo.com, Osuji Ozodi, Vin Otuonye, Google, joano...@gmail.com, DR OSUJI OZOJI, OSUJI OZODIOBI PhD., Wale Adedayo, Osuji Ozodi, Elombah Tim, BI KENOBI, akelic...@gmail.com, 247ureports, Paul Oranika, Social Justice Equity, Ob Mona, aabdul...@yahoo.co.uk, ABA SAHEED, Abdkabir, Abdulaheed Usamah, abos...@yahoo.com, ab...@hotfm.ng, abuj...@gmail.com, aburi...@yahoo.com, adeba...@gmail.com, Adeniba Adepoyigi, Adeniyi Adunola, Adewaleajayi2001, adewole...@yahoo.com, Today Africa, agbeniy...@yahoo.com, femi Olajide
NB: I have provided a brief introduction of
who I am and what brings me into this debate as a
postfix at the bottom of my piece below. This post fix piece is meant for those who do know me. All others should please ignore it.
Dear All:
The following is my response to the rebuttal written
by Dr Bolaji Akinyemi to the Press Release from
the Yoruba Elders Progressive Council (YEPC) which was released unsigned.
I come in peace unwavered from my long held opinion that the best option for our motherland, Nigeria is to remain a united Federation of citizens from all our distinct ethnic groups preferably one with full regional autonomy.
I also write as an individual who wears and has won many hats within the Nigeria communities at home and in the Diaspora. The expressed opinion below are strictly mine. They do not represent the views of any Nigerian organizations in which I have served as a member or served on their executive committees.
I do not agree in full with either one of the two futures painted by the YEPC or Dr Bolaji Akinyemi for Yoruba land and Nigeria.
I do not believe in the idea of a Yoruba nation, just as I did not believe in the dream of the Republic of Biafra as a separate nation for the Igbo and other minority
ethnic groups in the former Eastern Region when I was a mere teenager. This stance puts me in direct opposition to the YEPC, not withstanding that I share many of their concerns.
I sincerely believe that most of their concerns about the need to protect Yorubaland, and our culture, customs and traditional values could be resolved through dialogues among all Nigerians who reside in the Lagos state and elsewhere in the SW and the rest of Nigeria.
What I do not like is the xenophobic tone of the YEPC message. The Yoruba also live in many other states and regions of Nigeria. Should they also pack up their children and other family members and return home to O’dua Republic? Would there be enough jobs and residential accommodations, schools and health care services to meet their needs when they arrive back in O’duaa Republic?
One important point that the YEPC and other supporters of O’duaa Republic are missing or deliberately refusing to recognize is this one:
Nigeria is a geographical entity with borders that are defined, legally codified and recognized under the Charter of the United Nations. This border cannot be unilaterally altered by any region of Nigeria or neighbouring country without the approval of her citizens represented by her government.
This was a major obstacle the Gen. Odumegwu Ojukwu led Republic of Biafra government faced after the Declaration of Independence (DUI) in 1967.
From the beginning to the end of the war only a handful of countries formally recognized the Republic of Biafra even though many more provided covert support with funds and military supplies to the Biafra army behind the scenes just as other countries also sold weapons to the Nigerian military government for the prosecution of the war.
While my vision for Nigeria to continue as a multiethnic nation in which all of our ethnic and sub ethnic groups live in peace, work, pay their taxes and raise their children is closer to that of Dr Bolaji Akinyemi than that of the YEPC, I disagree with the tone of his message and his exclusive reliance on the Constitution of the Fed. Republic of Nigeria (Rev. 1999) as the sole basis for his arguments.
Even though the Constitution is the basis for all Laws (both civil and criminal), it does not in any manner even pretend to extinguish the Rights of Indigenes in any hamlet, village or town all over Nigeria as the original inhabitants of their lands and the custodians of their own native customs, traditional culture and the native religions practised by their ancestors before the arrival of the missionaries and colonialists at our shores and land borders.
Even after more than 7 centuries of the first major wave of the intial incursions of the first European explorers into North and South America and the Caribbean which was followed by colonization by the French, British, Spanish, Danish etc. the voices of the First Nations peoples (Aborigenes) remain loud and in-ignorable even though their political power has been largely diluted by the arrivals Europeans and other peoples from all regions of the world.
The Constitution in most civilized countries throughout the world is a living document that is subject to revision following the guidelines specified in the constitution. I am glad that this fact was acknowledged by Dr Bolaji Akinyemi in his rebuttal.
The Constitution is a document that guides our will
or more specifically the will of the majority of the population to accept it as the premier document that guides our desire to live and work together side by side and if we want intermarry among our ethnic groups.
Any major interethnic quarrels that result in violence in Lagos would require that both federal state and local governments deplore all the necessary resources to quell the riot(s). This can only succeed if the majority of the citizens of Lagos including the indigenous Lagosians and most of the Yoruba and all others who call the region home support these measures. Let’s up pray we never have such interethnic riots in Lagos or any where else in Nigeria. Amen.
If Gen. Yakubu Gowon had had enough enforcement
power for his initial Police Action and enough support from the Eastern Region he would not have needed a 3 year full blown military war to defeat the Biafra Army and put an end to the short lived Republic of Nigeria.
My advice to the minority of the Igbo who insist on calling any region of Nigeria a ‘No man’s land’ or as Dr Bolaji Akinyemi added ‘Every man’s land’ is that
the interest of peace and goodwill with your neighbours who are indigenes of Lagos to cease and desist. Most Yoruba including myself find this assertion offensive.
There are hardly no more real estate territories on planet earth that remains a no man’s land. Even when they remain unoccupied, an individual or government
in the jurisdiction has already filed and claimed ownership or is in the process of doing so. The USA, Canada, China, Japan are already in the process of declaring regions of the moon as their own. The same process will happen decades before the first human beings stepped their feet on Planet Mars, next door.
Nigeria remains at 62 years after independence a ‘young’ underdeveloped nation which has failed to leave up to her potentials. Successive leaders of Nigeria have failed our youths. Poor Nigerian kids in the cities are now far much less educated compared to their age cohorts were 50 years ago. These unfortunate kids end up as the marginalized area boys and girls throughout Nigeria.
Let us be careful with our rhetorics! Let us aspire to make more friends with those who do not share our ethnic origins, religions, culture and customs instead of making more enemies of our fellow citizens.
My fervent hope is that Nigeria would be socioeconomically on the path to joining the BRICS group of nations and official member of the G20 before the last of my generations transitions upstairs to join our ancestors. Amen.
With all due respect, I rest my case!
Bye,
Ola/‘Layi
Dr Olayiwola Kassim
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
August 10, 2025
Brief introduction:
For all Nigerians at home and abroad who have never heard of my existence or read any of my opinions on Nigerian issues for the past 3 decades, I believe that a brief introduction is in order. Those who know who me are welcome to skip the next 3 paragraphs.
My first formal position in the Nigerian Diaspora Community was that of the Patron of the Nigerian Community, GTA Toronto in early 1980 approx. 2 years after my wife and I arrived Canada for our Residency training at the Univ. of Toronto Medical School.
This was followed in 1981 by my appointment as the Patron of the Egbe Omo Yoruba (renamed a few years later as the Yoruba Community Association YCA) in the same jurisdiction.
I have also continued to serve as the Patron or one of the patrons of 5 more Nigerian organizations in Canada.
I am a former Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora organization (NIDO Americas Inc.)
As Chairman NIDOA, I represented all Nigerians in the Americas from the arctic of Canada as far south as the southern narrow end of Argentina and the Caribbean at the 2005 National Political Reform Conference (NPRC). I was one of only 400 official delegates to this attempt to amend the constitution of Nigeria that was last revised in 1999. Unfortunately
the conference ended abruptly 2 months after its inauguration when the entire SS delegation walked out over the disagreements of their for the distribution of oil revenues by the FGN.
While I still think I am not yet ready for honorary title of being a ‘Senior citizen’, I was humbled as I gracefully accepted my appointment to serve as the first official Patron of the African Canadian Seniors Network (ACSN) in GTA, Toronto, Ontario this past Friday August 8, 2025 at organization’s annual Summer Barbecue. There should be no doubt that I am now officially a Senior Citizen both of Nigeria and Canada.
ACSN is the an entity recognized by the federal government of Canada as the official conduit of requests for government support services for elderly African Canadians to the governments
On Aug 10, 2025, at 03:11, femi Olajide <
olajid...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Oga Imperial,
Thank you for the clarification
Regards,
Femi Olajide
On Saturday 9 August 2025 at 22:50:28 GMT+1, Imperial <
imperi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Alagba Olajide
Good evening .
The respected Professor Bolaji Akinyemi is alive, and the younger man called Dr Bolaji Akinyemi is also alive .
Sent from my iPhone
On 9 Aug 2025, at 20:09, femi Olajide <
olajid...@yahoo.com> wrote:
I am of the opinion that Dr Bolaji Akinyeminpassed away a while back.
My bad!
Regards,
Femi Olajide
To view this discussion visit
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/corporate-nigeria/182854872.5199335.1754766586479%40mail.yahoo.com
.
> On Aug 10, 2025, at 11:05, 'Afis Deinde' via ||NaijaObserver|| <
naijao...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
> I already told you all yesterday the Bolaji guy is a Nnamdi Kanu follower: