Yoruba in UK launch Oodua People’s Union (OPU)

To provide a platform to uphold their cultural heritage, Yoruba in the United Kingdom have launched the Oodua People’s Union (OPU), an organization for Yoruba people in the diaspora.
The event was held at Unit 9-14, Nice Business Park, Sylan Gove, London.

The National Coordinator of the OPU, Otunba Gani Adams, admonished Yorubas resident in the UK to see themselves as one big family and challenged them to contribute to the growth of Yorubaland.

In his keynote address, Otunba Adams said: “The formation of the OPU is significant in two ways: First, it will serve as a platform for all Yoruba sons and daughters in the UK to contribute their own quotas to the development of our fatherland.

In others words, from today, the Yoruba people all over the world will hope to tap from the abundance human resources available in all of you, hoping that you would collectively rise in defence of any member who faces injustice or needs assistance of any form.”

In addition, he said the union is coming at a time when major events all over the world point to dangerous directions that demand “you to clearly identity with your root to be able to survive the potential dangers. Don’t forget that racism is still with us as it was in those days of our forefathers and slave trade.”

Tribalism, he said noted, has continued to assume an alarming dimension in the modern world adding that “in recent time, religious bigotry seems to have joined the axis.

Fortunately for us as Yoruba and in Yoruba Land, we are too civilized to indulge in all of these shameful conducts. It is only in Yoruba land that you can see members of the same family practice different religions and yet they still live in peace and harmony, eat from the same plate and pursue family interest without any sign of religious difference.”

Dignitaries present at the launch were Oba Kolawole Aremu Sowemimo, Olu of Owode-Egba; Oba Mukaila Salako; Oba Michael Ayinde Oderinde, Olu of Sawonjo; Oba E. Olanuloye, of Igbogila; Arc. Mobolaji Falase, President, Yoruba Council of Elders, Europe an USA and Councillor Adedamola Aminu, Deputy Mayor of Lambert Council.