Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, has made a strong case for the Yoruba to actively participate in the National Dialogue being planned by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Speaking over the weekend in Ira, Kwara State, Adams argued that it is in the interest of the Yoruba to participate in the conference.

“I would like to call on all sons and daughters of Oduduwa both home and in the Diaspora to come together and support the on-going National Dialogue. I tell you, this is not the time to stand on the wall and watch events,” Adams, who is also the Chief Promoter, Olokun Festival Foundation, said Saturday while declaring open the 2013 edition of Oya Festival held in Ira.

He argued that it is better for the Yoruba to go to the conference and state their case instead of boycotting it as being canvassed by some Yoruba politicians.

His argument: “We stand to lose more if will fail to contribute to the Dialogue because those who attend will discuss issues that will favour them. And according to a Yoruba proverb, ‘a ki n pin ogun ile de omo oko’. Simply put, what this proverb means is that you cannot partake in the sharing if you are not present.

“I plead with all of us that it is time that we take our rightful position in the scheme of things in Nigeria. The National Dialogue will provide us the opportunity to correct whatever injustice presently being suffered by the Yoruba race.”

•Photo shows Gani Adams.