Why we founded Oodua Progressives Union, by Gani Adams

National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has said the decision to establish the Oodua Progressives Union (OPU) was based on the need to sustain the Yoruba identity.
Adams, who spoke in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday night, said OPU was not a self-determination, but a socio-cultural organisation.
He spoke at a dinner party in his honour by the Turkey branch of the OPU.
He said Yoruba people all over the world must have a sense of belonging and identify with their roots all the time.
Adams equally advised Yoruba people in the Diaspora to cultivate the attitude of returning home to invest and prepare for their journey back home.
He said: “Come back home and invest. Build houses in Nigeria. You do not know when you will want to seek elective positions back home. Get to know your people at home. Come back home to invest. Contribute to the development of Nigeria.
“Let it not be that it is when you need to seek elective positions that you will run back home and start running helter skelter. Let your people know you. Things are not as bad as you read out here. Things are moving fast and getting better in Nigeria. Come back home and invest.”
Adams also told the OPU members in Turkey that the OPC back in Nigeria in the last eight years had become a better organised group.
He said: “OPC is now properly structured. The last eight years has been peaceful and we have made progress.”
Among those who attended the event were the Zaki of Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State, Oba Yisa Olanipekun, and OPU European Coordinator, Akogun Banji Ojo.
OPU Coordinators from countries such as France, Italy, Ireland and Australia were also in attendance at the event, which was used to mark the 45th birthday of Adams.
Popular fuji musician, Abass Akande Obesere, was on the band stand.