Kunle Olajide, secretary-general of Yoruba Council of Elders
(YCE), says Sunday Adeyemo, a Yoruba youth leader popularly known as Sunday
Igboho, does not represent the Yoruba people in his call for secession.
Igboho had recently said Yoruba is no longer part of
Nigeria, calling on people of the ethnic group residing in the north to go back
home.
Speaking with TheCable on Wednesday, Olajide said Nigeria
would be stronger if it remained as a unit.
He said the Yoruba people had invested so much in Nigeria’s
formation and unity, and it would be unwise for them to seek secession.
Olajide said: “It is his (Igboho’s) personal desire but the
present circumstances in our nation do not favour and will not make it
achievable, and the fact that Yorubas have invested so much in the unity of
this country and in the making of Nigeria. The tribe cannot choose to opt out
without any adequate plans.
“I am not aware that the Yoruba nation or citizenship has
given a mandate to anybody to desire their extinction from this country. So it
is not a decision that can be taken by an individual or a group of individuals.
“Anybody who is familiar with the history of Nigeria will
know that we have been together for over 100 years, even before the British
came and we have Yorubas all over the country just as we have other Nigerians
everywhere.
“It is not something that you can declare by fiat. In any
case, our diversity in this country and our population are our strengths.
Fragmentation and dismemberment of this country cannot be in the best interest
of anybody.”
‘YORUBA ARE ANGRY’
Olajide said the Yoruba people are angry over the “ethnocentric nature” of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
He, however, noted that the ethnic group remains part of the
country.
“Yes, all of us, especially the Yoruba nation, are angry
about the ethnocentric nature of the present administration that appears
grossly insensitive to the cries of maginalisation from all parts of this
country. Whatever the hidden agenda it is, the agenda is bound to fail,” he
said.
“But we are still part of this federal government that we
are so much against because of the way it is being run. The vice-president is a
Yoruba man, we have ministers and governors so I don’t think anybody can ignore
those Yoruba leaders and go ahead to make a pronouncement that is not in the
interest of Yoruba nation and Nigeria in general.”
Olajide urged Igboho “and some of those who believe in him
to exercise patience”.
‘IGBOHO CAN’T SPEAK FOR YORUBA’
Igboho had also said Yoruba monarchs and elders were behind
him in his quest for secession.
But the YCE secretary-general said there was no platform
where the traditional rulers met with Igboho.
Olajide maintained that while Igboho has a right to pursue
whatever objective he desires as a “full grown adult”, he cannot speak for the
entire Yoruba people.
“Igboho is a full grown adult, he is not a teenager so it
will be wrong to believe that he does not know the country he is in,” he said.
“I have spoken to him once or twice on the telephone but he
is completely free to make his decision. But to make it on behalf of the entire
Yoruba is what I seriously fault, it is not in order.
“I read his stories in the media and saw him on the
television and social media but I am not aware that any such meeting has been
held.”
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