By Ezeocha Nzeh
As some groups in Southern Nigeria continue to push for a breakup of the Nigerian nations, prominent traditional rulers in the six states of the South-West geo-political zone have enjoined all Yoruba sons and daughters to embrace peace and eschew acts that can lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.
The royal fathers kicked against violent agitations for the secession of Yorubaland from the rest of Nigeria.
The traditional rulers, including the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagungbade III; Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin, Ogunoye III; Oluwo of Iwo land, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi; Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon Adetila; Olu of Moloko-Asipa, Igbore, Oba Nureni Nasiru Adesina; and the Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebowale Adebayo, stated this when a delegation of the Yoruba Appraisal Forum [YAF] led by its National Coordinator, Adeshina Animashaun, paid them peace advocacy and courtesy visits in their respective palaces last week.
The royal fathers warned that Yoruba race would gain nothing but only lose out in any violent confrontation with the Federal Government and the rest of the country in any attempt to dismember Nigeria.
They stressed that those agitating for a separate Yoruba Nation were not representatives of the entire Yoruba race, warning that such persons and groups were only hiding under a veil to achieve their selfish objectives.
The royal fathers therefore advised Yoruba youths to support all efforts to ensure absolute peace in Nigeria and appealed to the individuals and groups agitating for a separate Yoruba nation to sheathe their swords and rather join hands with other patriots to work the development and growth of Nigeria.
They, however, enjoined all aggrieved Yoruba to register to vote in the 2023 general elections in order to right the perceived wrongs being suffered by the people of the region under the Nigerian Federation.
Olubadan said, “I want to assure you that the Yoruba are not sleeping or docile. My prayer is that Yoruba land will not experience any chaos or violence. Before we are all Nigerians, we’re first and foremost Yoruba. We all know our different origins and sources. Nigeria today is divided into six geo-political zones and we’re in the South-West. We have South-East, South-South, North-Central, North-East and North-West. But if we look very well today, out of all of them, it is the South-West that is most developed. Is it the area of the economy, education, health, road infrastructure and so on? God has been very merciful to us (South-West). God has also blessed Yorubal and with prominent Pastors, Imams and traditional religionists. All these eminent Yoruba sons and daughters are not resting on their oars at all. They hold meetings regularly – the royal fathers, the governors.
“We can’t address a crisis with another crisis. We mustn’t allow the situation to degenerate. If some people are planning to cause chaos, we mustn’t allow them to spoil things. We’ll appeal to them with reasons that those bent on destroying the country should be avoided so that they won’t drag you and me as well as all Yoruba into their mischief. Please, remain patient. It shall be well with us all.”
Speaking in the same vein, Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba [Dr] Oladunni Oyewunmi Ajagungbade III, warned those agitating for a separate Yoruba Nation to perish the thought, saying the Yoruba race has nothing to benefit from seceding from a united Nigeria.
