The National Leader of the Oodua People’s Congress, 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 the 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.

Adams said Yoruba people all over the world must have a sense of belonging and identify with their roots all the time. He equally advised Yoruba people in the Diaspora to cultivate the attitude of returning home to invest and prepare for their journey back home.

His words: “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 was the Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun; and the European Coordinator of the OPU, Akogun Banji Ojo.

Coordinators of the OPU from other countries such as 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 a.k.a Obesere, was on the band stand.

•Photo shows Otunba Gani Adams.

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