The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and an elder statesman, Dr. Kunle Olajide, yesterday, faulted the formation of a parallel group, Council of Yoruba Elders (CYE), saying the YCE is active, functional, and well-established.

Recall that Dr. Victor Taiwo had last Thursday launched CYE in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Reacting to the development, the YCE through its Secretary-General, Chief Oladipo Oyewole, said the move was unnecessary.

Oyewole said the CYE was an illegality, adding that the elders would not encourage a division of Yoruba voice.

He said:”Our attention has been called to the unfortunate gathering of a group of individuals to ‘relaunch’ CYE in Ibadan.

“The position of Igbimo Agba Yoruba (YCE) is that the assembly is an illegality but we would not encourage a division of Yoruba voice as it is presently elsewhere.We will handle this with maturity as elders.”

On his part, Olajide said: “The YCEcomprises eminent and mature Yoruba elders.The organisation is very active and functional. It intervenes when necessary.YCE consists of experienced, mature elders of Yoruba land, who know that Nigeria is a heterogeneous country and when they need to intervene they must do so in such a way that will keep the unity of the country in focus. The unity, progress and development of the country must always be in their minds whenever they are commenting in national affairs.

“Obviously, because of their age and experience, they are not irrational, problematic and critical as some people might expect.

“The one Victor Taiwo founded is absolutely unnecessary. He is just trying to play with words.

Council of Yoruba Elders, I don’t know its meaning.”

But we are in a free society where one canform associations

“Nonetheless, as far as we are concerned, Yoruba Council of Elders is functional and active. It is well established with branches in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and so on. YCE is functional and has all over and they intervene in the affairs of the nation when necessary.” (The Guardian)