Aare Gani Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, on Thursday has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to choose between self-determination and regional government for South West people, saying liberation of Yoruba people is a must.
Adams, who spoke in Osogbo, Osun State, at the leadership retreat organised for the members of the Oodua Peoples Congress leaders, however said he preferred self determination and would not relent in pursuing it.
The Yoruba leader declared that Nigeria was designed for only northerners, especially the Fulani.
The National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, while lauding the governors for their courage to make such demand from the Federal Government, said his group would continue to push for self determination through diplomacy and intellectual engagement.
He also said members of his group living in diaspora would join the march to be led by Prof. Banji Akintoye on the United Nations General Assembly in September to demand a referendum or self-determination.
He said, “I agree with Akintoye’s position because when you look at the way Nigeria is run, one will want the Federal Government to either restructure the country to regional autonomy or allow self-determination.
“We cannot continue to languish in poverty; we cannot continue to live in our country like second class citizens.
“We agree with the South-West Governors on true federalism or regionalism. We, as freedom fighters, will continue to fight for self-determination, but the minimum we demand is regionalism.”
Adams, meanwhile, threw his weight in support of a proposal by the Southwest governors for regional autonomy.
He called on the Yoruba to wake up and fight for their freedom, adding that the tribe was being deprived of its right.
“We will not use guns or disrupt the peace of the society. Nigeria is made for Fulanis, Yorubas should wake up to the call and fight for their rights which they are being deprived of,” he said.
He rejected the call by some Southern states asking for state autonomy, claiming that it will separate Yoruba land from having a unilateral relationship, which according to him is a homogeneous region.
Speaking further, Adams said he supports Prof Banji Akintoye in his diplomatic way of attaining struggle without violence.
“Yoruba one voice in the diaspora will join ‘One Million March’ in the UN. Any reasonable person that sees the way Nigeria is going will choose regional autonomy or self-determination. We can’t continue to languish in poverty, in fear because our life is not safe.
“We can’t continue to be in a country where our future is not guaranteed, we can’t be in a country whereby we will be a second or third-class citizen,” he added.
