Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111 has called on the Yoruba residents in the United Kingdom to use the opportunity available to them to advance the cause of the Yorubas in particular and Nigeria in general.

He stated that the United Kingdom, the home of the nation's colonial masters had produced so many Nigerians, who studied in the country and who used the privilege of that education to advance the cause of independence for Nigeria and promotion of good governance, freedom, liberty and egalitarianism.  

Alaafin recalled the efforts of the likes of the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo and his group through the formation of Egbe Omo Oduduwa in 1945 and how it metamorphosed into a political party in the first republic and became a reference point in the nation's political history.

Oba Adeyemi made the call in his acceptance speech at the award ceremony conferred on him by the Oyo State Council (OSC) in conjunction with Ar-Rahman Association both in the United Kingdom held at Oasis:6-8 Thames Road, Barking Essex, IG11 0HZ  on tuesday.  

The monarch said: "The aim of the 'Egbe' was to galvanize the Yoruba Nation into action and to provide a forum in which problems, common to the Yoruba as a whole could be considered.

"Although, ostensibly, an educational, social and cultural organization, it also had political implications. I want you to take a cue from the painstaking efforts of these foremost Yoruba nationalists, who started their political movement from here in London.

"By doing this, they were able to  advance the cause of the Yoruba Nation in particular and Nigeria in general, you need to remember the popular adage, 'ile labo simi oko' (there is no place like home)", the monarch stressed.

Oba Adeyemi expressed satisfaction with the motto and mission statement of the group, saying, "I am impressed by your motto which is 'honesty, justice and unity' and your mission statement which is 'promoting the welfare and socio-economics/educational needs of all Oyo State indigenes in the United Kingdom"