Says No Turning Back To Yoruba Nation
Leader of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, Banji Akintoye, has reiterated the group’s firm resolve to establish a sovereign Yoruba Nation, emphasizing that the movement will not back down from its quest.
In a Monday iinterview, Akintoye made it clear that the push for self-determination was irreversible.
“We are not going back. We must leave Nigeria, or our nation will perish,” Akintoye declared, further stating that the Yoruba people, numbering approximately 60 million worldwide, were united in their desire to form an independent country.
“We want to establish a country of our own. There will be no Nigeria where we have our country. But if the rest want to continue as Nigeria, they are welcome to do so,” he added. Akintoye pointed out that the Yoruba people in Nigeria, estimated at between 55 and 60 million, are determined in their pursuit of self-determination.
International Outreach: The UK Government’s Response
Akintoye also discussed the movement’s efforts to engage with the international community, revealing that they had formally written to the United Kingdom government about their push for a Yoruba Nation. He shared that the UK government had acknowledged the letter, though he noted that responses from such a powerful government typically take time.
“We knew from the beginning that we were dealing with one of the most powerful governments in the world, and it is not something you can expect a response to in a month or two,” Akintoye explained. “But we have got a general acknowledgment that our letter is being attended to. We got the acknowledgment after we submitted the letter. The British government is not rushing, but that doesn’t mean they are not giving it the necessary attention.”
Concerns Within the Nigerian Government
In a separate letter sent to the Nigerian government, Akintoye claimed that the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement’s requests for a peaceful breakaway had caused significant unease among Nigerian authorities. He stated that there was evidence suggesting the movement’s communications had unsettled the government.
“Yes, they (the Nigerian government) are working on it. We know that they are working on it, and we have seen evidence that our letter is causing them some trouble. But they don’t have to have any trouble with us,” Akintoye said.
He also emphasized that the movement’s demands for self-determination were based on the rights of the Yoruba people. Citing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Akintoye asserted that the movement had the right to peacefully seek self-determination, which includes the possibility of separation from their current nation.
“The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms that every indigenous people in the world have a right to self-determination and separation from their country to which they currently belong; that they must do it peacefully and without violence,” Akintoye said, reiterating that the Yoruba movement was committed to following these principles carefully.
Akintoye’s comments underscore the ongoing agitation for a Yoruba Nation and the movement’s determination to continue pursuing its goal through peaceful means.
