“We Are Pushing Separation From Nigeria” – Prof. Akintoye

By Akinwale Kasali

As the Yorubas celebrate the Yoruba Unity Day, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Leader of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, has renewed the call for  a Yoruba Nation. He lamented the spate of killings of Yoruba, allegedly, by suspected Fulani Bandits and Herdsmen.

Akintoye stated that over 29,000 Yoruba have been murdered. He insists that alleged Fulani Bandits and Herdsmen’s heinous activities such as rape and destruction of farmlands are yet to abate.

The Professor of History emphasized that the ongoing threats to life and livelihood have made separation from Nigeria the only viable option for the Yoruba Nation.

He said: “The only viable and sustainable answer to all this horrible situation is to separate our Yoruba nation from Nigeria, and to establish our own country where we shall be able to exercise our sovereignty to provide security for our land and people, and where we shall be able to run our economy decently in the way that we Yoruba know.

“In the rural areas of our homeland, where probably the majority of our people live, the Fulani people who are determined to seize land for a homeland of their own, are daily killing our people, have killed a roughly estimated 29,000 of our people, are raping our women, kidnapping men, women and children, extorting millions of Naira in ransom for the kidnapped, destroying farms, food barns and villages.”

He also noted that he is not alone urging other Yoruba people to support the self determination struggle

He said, “We are seriously pushing for the separation of our Yoruba nation from Nigeria and the Nigerian disaster is different. Our perception of the Nigerian situation is not self-centred. It is not emotional. It is intellectually sound and realistic. And it is accepted by at least 80 per cent of all our Yoruba at home and in the Diaspora. Objectively, there is good reason to fear now that the Nigerian situation could destroy our Yoruba nation.

“Our kinsman who won election as President of Nigeria is being made to face ever-mounting harassment, including threats of military overthrow, threats of wholesale regional rebellion, and even a defiant declaration of war.” He added.