Gbenro Adesina
The unity of Nigeria has continued to come under heavy attacks and threats as some major groups of Yoruba in the South West have increased the agitation for the carving out of Oduduwa nation from Nigeria.
The groups in the six states of the South West geo-political zone, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States, have vowed to publicly demand for a Republic on October 1, 2020, the day set aside as Independence Day to mark the 60th anniversary of Nigeria.
According to the 2017 Demographic Statistics Bulletin of the National Bureau of Statistics, the population of the Yoruba is 38,257,260, representing about 21 per cent of the entire population of the country.
The groups said that they have perfected plans for a peaceful rally in the region adding that the rally is equally aimed at sensitising other Yoruba people about the necessity to have an independent nation saying that if it could happen in the developed nations like Russian, there is no reason why it could not happen in Nigeria.
Expected to lead the rally is the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams.
The main reason cited for the agitation of a separate nation is connected to the description of the country by former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, as a failed nation.
Obasanjo said, “Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state; economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world, and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country”.
In the same direction, the former Managing Director of Daily Times Plc, Chief Tola Adeniyi, though, advocating for a better country and not in support of dissolution said, “99.9 per cent of the Yoruba in Nigeria are united in the view that Nigeria is not treating them well”.
The aggrieved Yoruba groups unequivocally condemned the way the nation is being run saying that the domination of the Northerners must stop.
They expressed total displeasure over the collapse of the economy as a result of endemic corruption as well as security collapse, which is been hijacked by different types of terrorist groups, who mercilessly kill in unthinkable manners, kidnapping for ransom and when the money is not paid, kill, main, rape and carry out other assaults.
For instance, there is a red alert by the Aare Ona Kakanfo and some security outfits that over a thousand members of ISIS are currently camping at Lusada forest in Oke-Ogun Area of Oyo, with over 500 motorcycles, and other dangerous weapons, which they want to use to wreak havoc in the South West.
The Civil Defence Corps, Oyo State Command, recently confirmed this report, saying that all hands are on deck to avert the planned attack from the terrorist groups.
Among the leaders of the group calling for Yoruba Nation is Sunday Adeyemo Sunday alias Sunday Igboho, who called on the Yoruba people to unite in ensuring that Oduduwa Republic is a reality.
Sunday Igboho said that it is the right of the Yoruba to seek for independence adding if the Federal Government is not ready to grant it peacefully, then the mission would be actualised by force.
His words, “We are not ready to fight anybody. We are only seeking for our right. But if you say that you want to fight us, we will also confront you. On October 1st, 2020, we will hold a rally in Ibadan. We will celebrate that Yoruba want to be independent in October, we will exhibit our flag to tell the world that Yoruba wants Oduduwa Republic carved out of Nigeria. It will now be left to them to say that they will not give us. If they say that they are not giving us, then, we will ask for the reason why they do not want to give us. Are you denying us a nation because we do not have enough population or we don’t have educated people in the region or intelligent people? What mineral resources do your father has that our fathers do not have? Go your own way and let us go on our own way… What we want that day is that we want Aare Ona kakanfo of Yorubaland to lead us…”.
It is gathered that Yoruba people in Kwara and Kogi may want to go with Yoruba Nation if Oduduwa Republic is granted.
The call for Oduduwa Republic has been supported by the Yoruba people in Diaspora as peaceful protests are being held in support for South West to secede from Nigeria.
Of a recent were peaceful protests held by different groups in London in support of Oduduwa Nation.
However, it is should be on record that virtually the entire Southern part of Nigeria is seeking for dissolution of Nigeria. Aggressive about this is the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu leading the Igbo to demand for Biafra Republic. This demand has led to a stiff resistance from the Federal Government leading to thousands of Igbos been killed.
Also, Nnule Mpeba, certified Management Accountant and an Ogoni Nationalist, in 2007 called for the political and economic independence of Ogoni Nation adding, “But we must be prepared to sacrifice and rededicate ourselves and our resources to the emancipation of the Ogoni struggle for independence”.
“The Ijaws have even submitted their application for admission into the Commonwealth and are vigorously pursuing membership status at the United nation”, he added.
