29th September, 2010
The President and Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun says the organisation was founded because of the dictates of then and the agony of the Yoruba at that time.
Dr. Fasheun, who was speaking during the launch of a new OPC base at Agbado Ijaye area of Lagos State, South West, Nigeria, added that OPC was founded after the way the military government treated the late MKO Abiola, winner of the election adjudged the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria. Abiola was arrested and died in custody of the then military government.
“This was why we resolved that if someone as gentle as Abiola can be treated in such manner, no member of the Yoruba race is safe. We thus declared war on them and said until a Yoruba man emerges as president, we would never surrender. That was why we had Chief Olu Falae and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo contest for the Presidency in 1999.
“And I want to assure you that with the OPC in place, nobody can cheat the Yoruba anywhere in this country,†he added.
Fasehun urged Mr. Taiyelolu, the Chairman of the new OPC base and his executives to be fair and patient in all their dealings with the public.
Also speaking at the event, the vice president of OPC, Otunba Kazeem Badmus urged the new executives to ensure that they protect the lives and properties of residents and cooperate with the police in making the area safe.
He also urged them to behave and conduct themselves in an orderly manner, and not allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians during the next general elections but should support all attempts at good governance.
Oba Richard Adedayo Ishola Shyllon, the Alagbado of Agbado thanked the organisation and urged members of OPC to eschew rancour and unite, adding that the OPC is one and there are no factions in the organisation.