Leader of Yoruba self-determination movement, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Banji Akintoye has stated that Nigerian authorities cannot stop the Yoruba nation from seeking secession.
The popular Yoruba historian noted that every group has right to self-determination as stated in the United Nations (UN) constitution as well as the African Union constitution.
According to him, every nationality has the right of sovereignty.
The call to pull southwest from the rest Nigeria has be gaining prominence in recent times. Many agitators have cited insecurity and the need for a fast-track development as the underpinning reasons for their demand for a Yoruba nation.
Akintoye further urged the Nigerian government to begin negotiations on how those willing to exit the country can do so peacefully.
He stated that the deployment of Police or the military is not the answer to the call for secession, adding that the use of force can only lead to the breakdown of law and order.
Citing the endorsement of non-violent agitation by the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, the historian appealed to the government to emulate their fellow politician by speaking the truth and doing what the people wants.
Obasa had declared there is nothing wrong in seeking the split of a nation and cautioned against military deployment.
According to Obasa, every citizen has a right to expression, and as such the government must listen to every grievance.
Speaking further, Akintoye, an elder statesman, called on the need for dialogue on how to peacefully resolve issues over the amalgamation of Southern and Northern Nigeria in 1914.
This was contained in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye.
The statement reads, “All our elected and bureaucratic public officials know what Hon. Obasa has now dared to proclaim: that every nationality in the world has the right of self-determination; that such right is inalienable.
“Majority of the people of our Yoruba nation have made it absolutely clear that we now want to assert our self-determination, separate from Nigeria, and go forth to run our own Oduduwa Republic or Yorubaland.
“Many other nationalities in Nigeria seek to assert their self-determination too, and we have announced our willingness to work with them as co-travellers seeking identical goals.
“We need to warn the Nigerian authorities who say they are determined to thwart our quest. You cannot stop us or any of the other nationalities seeking independence.
“When you say you have ordered the police and military to be ruthless against us, we advise you to be aware that you might be breaking laws that can lead you into serious criminal prosecutions in international criminal courts.
“Yoruba do not wish such a fate for any of the persons who are until now our co-citizens. The truth is that you cannot stop any nationality that is presently part of Nigeria from asserting their self-determination”, Akintoye added.
