The pan-Yoruba sociocultural group, Afenifere, has warned the Federal Government against handling the agitations for the restructuring of the nation with levity.
The group also warned that other regions and tribes in the country, including the Yoruba, might join the demand for self-determination if nothing was done to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference.
The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, spoke in Osogbo, Osun State, on the group’s position.
Odumakin said that the Yoruba had suffered a lot of injustice for long, stressing that Nigeria would cease to exist the day the Yoruba were forced to demand secession.
The Afenifere spokesman, who claimed that southerners were being marginalised in the distribution of the nation’s common wealth, blamed the British colonial masters for such a situation.
According to him, the British deliberately programmed the Igbo and Yoruba to hate themselves since Nigeria gained independence.
He, however, added that “the time has come to deprogramme that,” asking the Federal government to ensure that the nation was restructured to enable all the regions to control their resources and allow the states to engage in the development of their lands.
“Allow states to enjoy the prosperity of their lands. We want to see concrete steps taken before October 1 on the conference reports, because demand for secession will be more rampant if Nigeria is not restructured. We want to be equal partners in Nigeria’s project.
Our resolve is so high at the moment and we will refix it once and for all, democratically,” the Afenifere spokesman said.
Odumakin noted that the southern part of the country had been operating on what he termed “servant-leader” relationship with the north and stressed that it was high time, “We stood as equal partners in dictating the affairs of our country.”
He stressed the need for southern leaders to speak with one voice in ensuring that Nigeria was restructured while calling on the northern youths to withdraw the quit notice issued to Igbo residents in their area.
The Afenifere spokesman warned that failure by the northern youths to withdraw the quit notice issued the Igbo would be taken that all the people from southern Nigeria living in the North had become their target.
According to Odumakin, “It’s time to see ourselves as one in the south. We appeal to our brothers in the north to see reason for where we can stand as equal partners dictating the affairs of our country.”
On the agitation for an independent Biafra, he said, “The demand for Biafra has been at the level of agitation before now.
Igbo is known for business and they are civilised human beings. We are supporting Igbo because they are civilised.
You saw the manner with which they have been operating peacefully while they pursue their demand. Look at the way they sat at home peacefully.
Give it to the Igbo, they are enterprising people. “The right of self-determination is recognised by the United Nations but for a group of people (in the North) to say they should go, is a declaration of war and should be taken as such. Is the marriage with Igbo not deceptive?
The British programmed us (Southerners) to hate ourselves, that’s the problem with Igbo and Yoruba. We were programmed to hate ourselves and that is what the Fulani inherited. Igbo originally left Yoruba land.
The Yoruba planted kolanut that the Igbo venerate today. What happened is a programme to despise ourselves but the time has come to deprogramme that.
“Our destiny is tight and we have to work together. Yoruba should focus on how to ensure we end this servantleader relationship.
We (Yoruba) have suffered so many injustice, but we have never asked for separation from Nigeria. But the day we ask for it, that will be the end of Nigeria. Our hearts bleed for Nigeria. We are not developing as we should.”
He commended Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s efforts in finding solution to the secession agitations, while berating the Federal Government for failing to arrest the Northern youths for issuing a dangerous ultimatum to the Igbo to leave the north.
“They (Northern youth) have been treated like sacred cows. What is happening flows from the nationality problem in Nigeria; the issue has to be addressed holistically. We should sit and meet, if we want Nigeria or division.
The Department of State Security issued empty threats to the northern youths. That is a deception of the highest order. You can see that the boys (Northern youths) dared the police to arrest them but not even one has been arrested as I speak. We can’t be deceived,” Odumakin said.
