In what she described as a “historic awakening” and “rebirth of consciousness in Yorubaland,” Obabìnrin Aderonke Okeleye on Tuesday unveiled the Omoluabi Parapo Conservative Group — a movement aimed at reviving Yoruba interest and restoring the region’s voice in Nigeria’s national discourse.
Speaking at a press conference themed “Awakening Yoruba Interest in Nigeria’s National Discourse,” in Abeokuta Okeleye said the group was born out of a deep concern for the dwindling influence of Yoruba leadership and values in the country’s political and cultural space.
“Before colonialism, Yoruba civilization was one of the most advanced in Africa,” she said. “We had organized kingdoms, democratic councils, thriving trade routes, and rich systems of education. Our ancestors governed with conscience because Ìwà l’ẹwà — character is beauty.”
Echoes of the Past
Okeleye recalled the golden era of Yoruba progress under Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the First and Second Republics, when, according to her, “Yoruba interest was at the heart of governance.”
She credited that period for pioneering policies such as free education, efficient healthcare, and industrial development driven by “leaders who saw service as sacrifice.”
A Call to Moral Revival
However, she lamented that the Fourth Republic has seen “a painful decline in moral leadership,” accusing many current politicians of placing personal and party interests above collective Yoruba progress.
“The bond between the people and their leaders has broken,” she declared. “While other regions are consolidating their power, Yorubaland has become divided, reactive, and uncertain of its future.”
Reclaiming Yoruba Voice
According to Okeleye, Omoluabi Parapo Conservative Group aims to rebuild that lost connection — serving as a moral and ideological bridge between the people and their leaders.
She likened the movement’s vision to that of historic Yoruba organizations such as Egbe Omo Odùduwà and Afenifere, which once stood as “the conscience of Yoruba politics.”
“We are not against any political party or politician,” she clarified. “We are simply here to remind everyone that if you are not first a good Yoruba, you cannot be a good Nigerian.”
Mission and Vision
The group’s mission, she explained, is to promote accountability, youth empowerment, cultural revival, and unity within Yorubaland.
Okeleye emphasized that Omoluabi Parapo is driven by young Yoruba professionals and thinkers who believe that “human capacity is the true wealth of a nation.”
“Our goal is simple — to make Yoruba Land great again, and to ensure that Yoruba interest becomes a national priority, not an afterthought,” she said.
For a Fairer Nigeria
Okeleye reaffirmed the group’s commitment to a united Nigeria, but one built on fairness and mutual respect among its constituent nationalities.
“We believe in a Nigeria that works for everyone, including the Yoruba. We are not seeking division — only equity and recognition of our heritage,” she said.
A New Beginning
Concluding her address, Okeleye called on Yoruba sons and daughters to unite behind shared values of integrity, discipline, and communal progress.
“The Yoruba Land will no longer watch in silence while others define her destiny,” she declared. “We are rising — peacefully, intelligently, and courageously — to reclaim our place in history.”
With the slogan “Our Land, Our Future, Our Legacy,” the Omoluabi Parapo Conservative Group positions itself as a new force for cultural revival and political conscience in the Southwest.
