Professor Banji Akintoye, who is the Chairman of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) and a university don, Prof. Yusuf Turaki and other leaders from the South and Middle-Belt are expected to lead a march to the United Nations headquarters in September.
The march which will hold by eminent leaders of thought from the South and Middle Belt of Nigeria from September 14 to 21 which coincides with the 76th session of the UN General Assembly is said to aim at demanding self-determination for the indigenous peoples in those zones of Nigeria.
The leaders are members of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) who signed the Constitutional Force Majure (CFM) declared on 16th December, 2020, rejecting the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and calling for a United Nations supervised Referendum.
NINAS is the umbrella body of leading regional self-determination groups in the South and Middle Belt of Nigeria with Ilana Omo Oodua representing the Yoruba blocs, Lower Niger Congress representing the South South and South East and Middle Belt Forum representing the Middle Belt blocs.
The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) holds from 14th to 21st September, 2021.
The one million march, according to a Statement signed by the Communications Manager to NINAS, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye and made available to journalists on Tuesday is expected to be led by a renowned Historian, Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye, respected Prof. Yusuf Turaki, Secretary-General of NINAS, Tony Nnadi, Pioneer Commissioner for Education in Osun State and National Chairman of Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Wale Adeniran, amongst others.
The Statement reads inter alia “We have read a trending statement authored by a faceless group demanding for the ban of Ilana Omo Oodua from making presentation before the world at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
“NINAS shall be calling on all indigenous people from the South and Middle Belt around the world to unite and stand together in solidarity in their demand for the restoration of their sovereignty, their inalienable right to their self-determination, their assets and right to freely choose their association with any state.
“The Freedom March will feature a demand from the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Nigeria to save the embattled indigenes who are being daily massacred by Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists including Boko Haram and ISIS operating with impunity.
“We wish to say very expressly that Ilana Omo Oodua, contrary to media reports, will not be making any official presentation at UNGA.
