Embrace the President-elect, Chief Ajayi tells politicians

Kehinde Emmanuel,Ilorin 

A former President of All Nigerian American Congress (ANAC), Chief Amina Temitope Ajayi, aka Mama Diaspora, has called on all politicians, irrespective of their party affiliations to rally round and support the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the unity, growth and development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She stated that Asiwaju’s administration will impact the nation positively, and address Nigeria’s developmental challenges, including the growing unemployment rate and energy poverty.

She stated that Asiwaju is passionate about the welfare of the youth and women and would address their concerns, including youth unemployment.

She spoke during a media conference by the Yoruba Council Worldwide on Friday in Lagos. The media conference was jointly addressed by the Council President, Aare Oba Oladotun Hassan and  Chief Amina Temitope Ajayi (Mama Diaspora) on the State of the Nation and Smooth transition ahead of May 29, 2023, in commemoration of the promotion of the Omoluabi festival, ethos and culture of excellence.

“Chief Ajayi said, “From now till the first of May, 2023; everybody should forget their political differences. God chooses who he wants. It is now for us to accept it and say, ‘Father thank you for this our leader.’

“We should unite. There is nothing like agitation. Let us unite and support Asiwaju and his govenrment. After his government, another person can come in. I want everybody to take a big purse. I am appealing to everybody, let us embrace peace. I can assure you that our President-elect will bring everybody together. Obedients, Articulates, Kwankwansos, and Sowores, let us work together and move this country to the next level.”

She added, “Every private sector should say to themselves it is our turn. This government is our government. I think democracy is alive. Democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people. It is our government. Whether you vote for him or not, somebody in our compound voted for him. Somebody in our family voted for him. Automatically, he is our President.

“As a mother and as a leader, I kneel down to tell everyone that it is over. Let us suck it up and knock it out. All the young adults in this country, consider yourselves lucky. All the women consider yourselves blessed. All the women we have to support the incoming First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

“We should all pray for the incoming first lady, I love her, she is our wife. Senator Oluremi Tinubu is an example for every woman to emulate from today. She stood for her husband, Women, stand by your man. Support your man. Help to build your man’s dreams and ambitions. Do not talk down on him. You are the face behind your husband’s mask. Women, you are the policy behind the policymakers. Stay focused. The tide has changed now. Every woman should emulate our incoming First Lady.”

Aare Oba Oladotun Hassan said Chief Ajayi, will be crowned with the prestigious title of ‘ Yeye Ataiyese Omoluabi Oodua Agbaye’ on May 1 by, during the Omuluabi festival at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

He welcomed Asiwaju and called for the support of all Nigerians after his inauguration as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Hassan said, “We believe strongly in the unity, progress and development of Nigeria. That is why the clarion call on the need for us to set the record straight that the Yoruba people heartily appreciate all Nigerians for voting and electing the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

We are using this medium to welcome him back to the country. This is the time for a renewed hope of excellence and good governance and this is a formal preparation of our world Omulabu festival slated for May 1, 2023, at the National Arts Theatre in commemoration of World Omulabi Day.

“The leadership has come en-mass all over the world, we have seen her (Chief Ajayi) capacity, tenacity and energy. They are surpluses and glorifying edifices. We are here to acknowledge her status as ‘Yeye Ataiyese Omuluabi Oodua Agbaye’ today ahead of the.

 The leadership of this council is to formally acknowledge her. This programme is the fifth edition of the Omulabi festival. This is a global national day for all Yoruba as endorsed by His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.

. The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Special Guest of Honour while The Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwoolu is the Chief Host. The event will also be attended by Yoruba Royal Fathers, like the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu.

“Based on Ooni’s endorsement of May 1 of every year as the Yoruba national day tagged Omuluabi Day, it is in this light that after four years of sojourning in the Ile-Ife, we are here to birth the programme as part of Kabiyesi’s vision of taking the vision globally. And we are here to present to Her Majesty (Chief Ajayi/Mama Diaspora) the official acknowledgement of the event in Lagos State. As we present today the toga of honour, we present this clarion call for the leadership; to lead us to the new era of good governance, renewed hope, excellence, peace and development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Chief Ajayi lamented that the fourth quarter unemployment report for 2020 released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently showed that 23.18 million persons in Nigeria were unemployed during the fourth quarter (Q4) 2020 and that the majority of them are youths.

She said it is worrisome that the NBS recorded an increase in the national unemployment rate from 23.1per cent in 2018 to 33.3per cent in 2020 and that KPMG, a global network of professional firms, estimated that this rate has increased to 37.7per cent in 2022 and will rise further to 40.6 per cent in 2023.

Chief Ajayi, who is one of the United Nation’s Eminent Peace Ambassadors, described Nigerian youths as being energetic, resourceful, vibrant and digitally savvy.

She called  on all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, to support the President-elect, to make Nigeria greater.

She stated that the President-elect is a detribalised person, who will unify Nigerians and carry all stakeholders along.

She assured that the President-elect will address the yearnings of the youths and women, and appealed to the incoming administration to address the energy poverty in the country.

She noted that energy is a vital sector that if made to be effective, could transform Nigeria.

Chief Ajayi said “Asiwaju should focus on light power provision which includes: kinetic energy, turbine, solar, and wind energy. If there is light in this country, factories will come up and it will revamp the economy. 

That is no one. Because young adults are 65 per cent of the economy, that is serious. Unemployment is overwhelming. The young people have first-class brain. I know my brother, the President-elect, he made me. Look at the confidence I have. By the special grace of God, in the next eight years, you will see how women and young adults will have self-confidence in Nigeria.”