By Damilola Omosebi
The Yoruba race stands at a crossroads again. History, with its cruel irony, seems poised to repeat itself. We sacrificed Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the prison walls of political vendettas. We watched as MKO Abiola, the man who won the freest election in Nigeria’s history, was martyred in the name of power. And now, whispers grow louder; will we sacrifice Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the same way?
This is not just a question. It is a bewildered cry from a people who have given too much blood to a nation that seldom repays in kind.
The Ghosts of Sacrifices Past
Obafemi Awolowo: The Sage We Betrayed
Awolowo was not just a politician; he was the architect of modern Yoruba progress. Free education, infrastructural development, and visionary leadership; these were his gifts. Yet, when the Nigerian state turned against him, where was the Yoruba resistance? He was imprisoned on trumped-up charges, his political wings clipped by a system that feared his brilliance. The Yoruba, divided and hesitant, allowed it to happen. The consequences? A region that never fully recovered from his absence .
MKO Abiola: The Martyr We Could Not Save
Abiola won an election so transparent that even his enemies knew it was legitimate. Yet, when the military annulled June 12, where was the Yoruba fury? Yes, there were protests, but the unity needed to defend his mandate was fractured. NADECO fought, but the Yoruba political class was split; some compromised, others silenced. Abiola died in detention, and with him, the hope of a democratic Yoruba voice in Nigeria’s highest office .
Tinubu: The Next Sacrificial Lamb?
Today, history’s pendulum swings toward Tinubu. The signs are ominous:
The Growing Isolation
Even within Yorubaland, voices that once rallied behind him are turning. Afenifere, the once-united socio-political bloc, is divided. Some, like the late Ayo Adebanjo, openly opposed him, advocating for equity over ethnic loyalty . Others warn that his government must not be truncated; yet the murmurs of dissent grow louder .
The Economic Crucible
Nigeria bleeds under harsh economic policies. The Yoruba, like all Nigerians, suffer. But instead of uniting to demand better governance, some are quick to blame Tinubu alone; as if he operates in a vacuum. Where is the collective pushback against systemic failures? Where is the demand for restructuring, the very cause Awolowo and Adebanjo championed? .
The External and Internal Enemies
The North watches. The East watches. The world watches. And within Yorubaland, the knives are being sharpened. Some call him a traitor for past political maneuvers . Others accuse him of selfish ambition . But if he falls, who rises? Another vacuum? Another lost opportunity?
A Plea Before It’s Too Late
We cannot keep sacrificing our best to the altar of Nigeria’s dysfunction. Awolowo was imprisoned. Abiola was killed. If Tinubu is politically destroyed, what then?
Learn From History
Awolowo’s imprisonment left a leadership void. Abiola’s death left a democratic void. If Tinubu is broken, what follows? A Yoruba political wilderness for another generation?
Demand Accountability, Not Abandonment
Yes, hold him accountable; but do not abandon him to the wolves. The same forces that crushed Awolowo and Abiola are still at play. If the Yoruba cannot unite to protect their own, who will?
The Danger of Division
Afenifere is split. The youth are disillusioned. The elders are at odds. If we do not unite, external forces will exploit these fractures—just as they did before .
Will We Ever Learn?
The Yoruba have paid too much in blood and tears. Must we pay again?
Awolowo was sacrificed. Abiola was sacrificed. If we allow Tinubu to be sacrificed, what then? Another martyr? Another lost decade?
This is not just about Tinubu; it is about the Yoruba destiny. Will we break the cycle, or will history write us as a people who keep offering their best to the gods of betrayal?
The choice is ours. But time is running out.
