We’II ensure the liberation of Yorubaland ―Akintoye

The President-General of the Yoruba World Congress (YWC) Professor Banji Akintoye has said that everything possible will be done to ensure the liberation of the region from the current challenges of under-development and insecurity pervading the land.

The emeritus professor of history noted that all sons and daughters from Yorubaland must bring heads together and be united in one accord for the region to take its rightful place and ensure its freedom from the shackles of backwardness in the country, reiterating, “Democracy began from the cradle of the Yoruba.”

The second republic senator spoke on Tuesday in Okemesi, Ekiti South West Local government area of Ekiti State during the commemoration of the 134th anniversary of the end of Kiriji war and 2020 Yoruba National Day celebration organised by YWC.

The historic event saw prayers and libations for progress for the region at the war memorial spot and the release of peace doves and balloons.

The Kiriji War, also known as the Ekiti-Parapo War, was a 16-year long civil war among the Yoruba people where all the sub-ethnic groups either supported the Ibadan or the Ekiti. The war came to an end on 23rd September 1886 with the signing of the peace treaty in Okemesi which marked the beginning of the unification of Yorubaland as one.

Speaking through the Ekiti State Coordinator of YWC, Mr Praise Ayodele, Akintoye maintained that the historic event was organised to help in discovering and promoting the history of Yoruba after 134 years and use same to enhance the unity among its residents for the ultimate goal of achieving the desired liberation for the people of the region.

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According to him, “We decided to return to Okemesi, Imesi-Ile and Igbajo to recover our pristine history, promote our history and use our history to further foster unity amongst us, as this place was where we signed the peace treaty in the year 1886 exactly 134 years ago.

“I want to implore all of us here, our royal fathers, chiefs, leaders, people of great worth, value and integrity, to patriotically come together to reposition the Yoruba nation as pacesetters not only to Africa but to the world at large. We must come together as Yoruba people are known for our intellect to share values and ideas and ideas to make us the leaders that we are in the comity of nations. I implore old and young to kindly come together to decipher where to go from here as Yoruba people.

“However, I am ready to fight on, just as I am ready and determined to stand for the liberation of the Yoruba.”

On their parts, the traditional ruler who graced the events, Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji; the Olojudo of Ido-Faboro, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro and the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole lamented the spate of insecurity in the region, saying the current political arrangement has failed the people, advocating the unity and cooperation of residents to overcome the numerous challenges pervading the land.

The traditional rulers called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to allow the restructuring of the country, where the country will be broken into autonomous federations that will enhance massive equitable distribution of resources and guarantee maximum security.

Oba Adedeji said, “If we had respected the agreement as embedded in the communique of the 2014 National Conference in which I was part, where we had about 600 resolutions; if we had not aside the clause touching the restructure of the country, there would have been no need for a section of the country asking for independence from the whole country.

“Even though the present administration does not care if Nigeria explodes and civil war breaks out, we should not doubt God’s divine intervention. Something unbelievable but favourable to our expectation may happen before the end of 2020.”

On his part Oba Ilori-Faboro while expressing displeasure to the current leaders in the country noted that “If we as Nigerians cannot produce leaders that are capable of governing Nigeria as an entity, let us break it down to manageable entities in autonomous federations. Moreover, the retrogressive constitution that we operating as of now cannot lead us anywhere because our democracy is producing more looters than statesmen and the cost of governance is ruinous.”

While reiterating the importance of unity for the region to ward off all external threat, the leader of Movement for Oduduwa Republic (MOFORE) Mr George Akinola said the residents of Yoruba must be allowed for the region to be tuned to slaves.

According to him, “We must first be at peace with one another and with ourselves to be able to present a formidable front, an impregnable shield that the enemy will find unmovable, insurmountable and unconquerable.” 

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE