The Supreme Council of the Yoruba Self-determination Movement headed by Professor Banji Akintoye has warned the ECOWAS under the chairmanship of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against using military intervention to restore democracy in the Republic of Niger.
The Group noted that Yoruba Youth would join hands with the military of the Republic of Niger to fight invaders should ECOWAS invades the nation.
The Socio-Yoruba Group, in a statement signed by Akintoye, stated, “We Yoruba Nation totally reject any intention or plan by Nigeria, by any West African state, or by any combination of West African states, to levy war against the Republic of Niger.”
The Group comprises the people of the Southwestern states of Nigeria including the Yoruba populations of the Nigerian states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Oshun, Ondo and Ekiti, plus the Yoruba populations of Kwara and Kogi States and the Itsekiri Yoruba people of the Delta State.
The statement reads in parts:
“We acknowledge, from all that have been manifesting on the news media since the military coup in Niger Republic that the overwhelming majority of the people of Niger Republic are massively and fervently supportive of the change of government in their country, and we strongly urge that their wish be respected.
“We inform the world that we Yoruba and the Hausa nation whose Niger people constitute the majority of the population of Niger, are sister nations, that for countless centuries before the coming of European colonialism, we Yoruba and Hausa were very closely related, that we were two large trading nation’s trading side by side in the vast territories of the West African interior, that many Hausa lived happily in Yoruba towns while many Yoruba lived happily in Hausa towns.
“We want the world to know now that we Yoruba do not want any harm to come to our Hausa brethren. Indeed, Yoruba youths are saying in all parts of Yorubaland that if the Niger Republic be invaded by anybody, countless Yoruba youths would hurry to the Niger Republic to join hands with the people of Niger to defend their country and to throw out the invaders.
“Therefore, we Yoruba nation strongly urge the president of Nigeria, our son President Bola Tinubu, to cancel totally any intention or plan for any invasion of Niger Republic. We urge him to see to it that the military option is completely taken off the table in the ongoing situation. We also strongly urge him to reverse any sanctions that have been embarked upon by Nigeria against the Niger Republic.”
