Stakeholders call for unity, recognition of September 23 as ‘Yoruba Unity Day’

Prominent Yoruba leaders have called for sustained unity among the Yoruba people and advocated for September 23 to be given special status across Yoruba-speaking states.

The leaders made this call at the ‘Yoruba National Unity Day’ event, organized by the IDANDE Organisation and the Yoruba Regional Alliance (YRA), held at the QRS Associate Hall, Moremi Estate, Ile-Ife.

The event commemorated the signing of the 1886 treaty that ended the Kiriji war, a historic conflict in Yorubaland, marking 138 years since its conclusion.

Prof Banji Akintoye, the National Leader of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement (YSDM), called for the institutionalisation of September 23 as “Yoruba Unity Day” to promote unity among the Yoruba people.

Akintoye, represented by Prince Ademola Adekunle, urged Yoruba traditional rulers, governors, and communities to adopt and celebrate the day.

“We must unite around this date each year to celebrate the end of the Kiriji War, which brought peace to Yorubaland,” he stated, emphasising the need to foster unity beyond Yoruba-majority states.

Bashorun Adekunle Adesokan, President of Yoruba Consciousness and Culture, also supported the move, calling for September 23 to be recognized as a special day in Yorubaland, further uniting the Yoruba people across all regions.

Lecturers from Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Abimbola Adesoji and Dr. Temitope Ajayeoba, emphasised the importance of preserving the Yoruba language and culture.

The duo stressed that unity was very crucial for regional development, economic emancipation and promotion of the rich Yoruba culture.

Opeoluwa Akinola and Oritsetimeyin Edgar in their separate remarks, also called for unity among Yorubas irrespective of where they found themselves.

The duo said the Yoruba race can only experience growth when all come together to preserve their history, cultural heritage and language.

The event drew attendees from Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, and other states with significant Yoruba populations such as Delta, Edo, Kogi and Kwara States.

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