To protest the rising spate of insecurity across the South-West states, a Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Yoruba Koya Movement has declared Wednesday, June 12 as National Day of Protest against the ongoing killings and kidnappings across Yoruba speaking states including Kogi and Kwara.
The rally, tagged June 12 ‘Otoge’ rally which is supported by a Yoruba Intelligentsia group, Voice of Reason (VOR) and 26 other socio-cultural and self-determination groups will hold simultaneously in all Yoruba speaking state capitals of Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Kogi, and Kwara States respectively.
The rally, according to the National Director of Organization and Publicity for the group, Mr. Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, is aimed at presenting the Yoruba Charter of Demands to the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to also present a public petition to the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the ongoing genocide in Southern and Middle Belt region of Nigeria.
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The group explained that the rally is being organized to reawaken the people of Yoruba speaking states to be conscious of the agenda of some ethnic warlords and reactionaries outside their domain to capture their land and enslave them while masquerading as visitors and to enjoin all governors in Yoruba speaking states to integrate towards economic, social and political development of Yoruba Land and to encourage them to make the security of lives and properties of their people utmost priority.
The group explained further that the rally is meant to encourage Yoruba Legislators both at the state and national Assemblies to endorse, support and move motions that will expressly indicate where the Yoruba Stands.
The rally, billed to commence at 9 am, will hold simultaneously in Gani Fawehinmi Park, Lagos, Ibadan Military Cenotaph, Opposite Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, Pansheke Roundabout, Abeokuta, Fajuyi Roundabout, Ado-Ekiti, Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Alagbaka Roundabout, opposite First Bank, Akure, Kabba Township Stadium, Kabba and Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin respectively.
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