Prior to the 1999 Atlanta Egbe Yoruba National’s convention, several major decisions were made by YOO association. One of them was that if no positive resolution was made with respect to the outstanding debt owed to YOO by the National Egbe Yoruba, YOO should immediately cease to be a member of the National. In deed, YOO presented candidates with full understanding that the nomination of YOO candidates was contingent upon clear resolution of the outstanding debt among other issues. And since the issue of outstanding debt was not resolved, YOO candidates did not participate in the election contrary to a published report. After the Atlanta convention, the YOO association reiterated its stand that she wishes not to be a part of and it withdrew its membership from the National Association of Egbe Yourba (North America). The other issue was the illegal and unconscionable admission of another local chapter in the same city. It is the general principle of the Egbe Yoruba National that there can be only one chapter in a city and a new chapter cannot present candidates unless it has been a registered member for, at least, one full year. It is noteworthy that National accepted the newly and only registered second chapter from the same city (the only in any city in North America) by accepting retroactively its dues for the past two years.
We hereby expresses its profound gratitude to our community, to individuals and organizations that contributed to the success of YOO 15th year anniversary. Additionally, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to the organizations that recently joined YOO as organizational members. We believe that with your efforts, commitment and dedication we would together be able to build a viable community and move forward.
The mission of Yoruba Omo Oduduwa (YOO) of Houston, Texas has always been, and will remain, bringing all Yoruba people together in Houston, in America, and in our homeland in order to focus on improving our cultural, economical, and professional growth. Moreover, the mission also includes increasing the political awareness in our community and encouraging programs that can be of benefit to our children, the Yoruba Community and our nation, Nigeria.
For far too long, laudable goals and objectives that can eventually lead to economic, cultural and ethical growth of our children, and our community, set forth by the founding fathers of YOO, have been sidelined by issues that are not connected to strategies for achieving these goals/objectives. Such goals, as well laid out as they have been, cannot achieve their intended results in our Houston Yoruba community if efforts are not consciously made to follow through. It is paramount to pursue a common goal that is bigger than the battered psyche and ego of any individual. Yoruba Omo Oduduwa is bent on making our agenda work for the benefit of our community and our children.
The objectives of YOO can be unequivocally stated as follows:
1) to ensure peace in our community;
2) to cooperate with all Yoruba people and all community-based organizations as long as such organizations and their leadership do not undermine YOO principles and purposes;
3) to encourage interaction between our children in order to achieve optimum growth and participation in Yoruba language and culture;
4) to provide a forum to
educate our children on carrier options for their future professional development and growth;
5) to seek scholarship opportunities for our children and those intending to pursue adult education;
6) to encourage and patronize Yoruba and Nigerian businesses; and
7) to continue with the Yoruba bi-monthly forum where mature Yoruba seek to set new goals for the community and where generic problems (health, personal, insurance, entrepreneurial development, professional development, real estate, legal, etc.) that are common to our community in Houston are preempted, discussed and resolved in a clear, open and non-judgmental manner. Rather than discussing these non-value-adding issues, YOO will concentrate on its programs which are community based and part of which our children enjoy and demand. YOO’s programs are as follow:
1) LANGUAGE AND CULTURE SCHOOL
2) YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS including Computer education camp
3) YORUBA AWARENESS FORUM
4) YOUTH GET TOGETHER PARTIES & NETWORKING
5) ODUDUWA PLANNING COUNCIL
6) ODUDUWA INVESTMENT CORPORATION
7) FAMILY & CHILDREN PICNIC
8) GRANDPARENT’S INVOLVEMENT AND NETWORKING
The recent problem that surfaced within the Yoruba community in Houston
existed long before some of us became part of the community. We will provide
some of the background information behind the issues that have been spun to
our community. Some of the issues and statements of fact are:
· RIVALRY ISSUES: There is absolutely no rivalry between Yoruba Omo Oduduwa and any local group. The issues on the table are based upon principles and factual information on record and the issues will be clear as you read along.
YOO MAIN ISSUES:
We must make it abundantly clear that YOO had serious disagreement with the Egbe Yoruba Executive (North America). Some of our issues have been presented in the following position papers:
a) Redressing the $5,706 Shakedown of 1997 against Yoruba Omo Oduduwa of Houston;
b) Our national officers’ lack of Interest in resolving Houston chapter problems;
c) The Houston experience of 1997 and the need for a policy for hosting our conventions; and d) Unconstitutional retroactive admission of a second chapter from Houston (for Election Eligibility?) and Dangerous Constitutional Amendments.
