By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin – The Oodua Progressive Care Initiative (OPCI), a Yoruba socio-cultural group, on Tuesday called for a full blown federal system in Nigeria, where states would truly be independent.
The President of the group, Alhaji Maruf Olarewaju, made the call in Ilorin during the National Coordinating Council meeting of the organisation.
The president noted that OPCI, as an organisation that believed in good governance and rule of law over the years, had been calling for a structural repositioning of the country.
Olarewaju explained that the organisation had resolved to partner with any party and presidential candidate that was committed to the lofty idea.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be impartial by ensuring that the forthcoming elections are not only free and fair, but acceptable to all.
“We enjoin all the youths, our mothers, women and everyone to come out in their multitude to perform their civic responsibility by voting for candidates of their choice.
“Let me re-emphasis that no member of OPCI is mandated or directed to get involved in political hooliganism, we must all be very careful in our conducts and association.
“Lest we would be used as instruments of violence or instability by anybody, big or small within or outside this state in the coming general election,” he said.
According to him, OPCI was launched in 2017 in Ile-Ife, Osun for the progress of Yoruba people across the country and beyond.
The OPCI boss noted that the organisation, which had since then registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), maintained members across the country.
All the state coordinators, who spoke at the meeting, urged members to be committed and dedicated to the lofty ideas of the founding fathers.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that delegates from Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Niger, Sokoto and Federal Capital Territory, among others attended the council meeting. (NAN)