Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Yoruba Emancipation Union YEU, hereby wish to unequivocally and unambiguously disassociate itself from the restructuring of the contraption and the paradigm of absurdity, called Nigeria. We totally reject any forms of restructuring Nigeria. Rather, we stand for complete and total independence of Yoruba Nation.
Our rejection of restructuring is based on many factors. The present political and economic structure of Nigeria, is totally at variance with the true federal structure which our nationalists had fought for, to enthrone into our polity and culture.
As pointed out in the Afenifere press statement, the unitary-military constitution which was foisted on us by Aguiyi Ironsi after the coup of 15th January, and which was further consolidated by the counter coup of 29th July 1966, had done incalculable damages not only to our collective psyche, but to our polity and our unity as an indivisible nation.
We would like to state categorically here also that, based on the lopsidedness and injustices in every sphere of our nation, and the general bloodletting episodes reference above, arising from the revolts, the ugly trends have left the patriotic Yorubas with no other option, but to take a decisive firm position of excusing herself from the Nigeria architecture completely, without any further delay.
The Yorubas have had enough of political, economic and social drama for long. We have suffered enough marginalization and injustice, as well as, inequality for such a very long period of time. Equally, we have been deprived of our inheritance also for too long, and it is time for us to determine our next level, by taking our destinies in our hands, including determining what forms of governance is suitable for us. Sadly, Yoruba Nation is always at the receiving end of political inequality, injustice, economic underdevelopment and numerous atrocious activities of the few Northern oligarchy and caliphate. Hence, the need to seek the independence of Yoruba nation.
Indeed, we couldn’t continue to pretend not to be aware of the evil machinations of the core Northern caliphate to not only subjugate our traditional positions in the Nigeria architecture, but also to subject our people who are predominately hospitable, accommodating and benevolent, to political, economic and military domination. This has been demonstrated clearly by the Northern ruling class without any sense of justice, fair play and absolute reasonableness. In actual cases, our most brilliant sons and daughters have been brutally and callously murdered in cold blood by the agents of the Northern powerful oligarchy in the mode of Fulani apparatuses, and their collaborative elements.
Sincerely, we couldn’t forget in a hurry, the shameless trial and incarceration of the great Yoruba hero and leader, our late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo on phantom coup allegations and charges which saw him, spending agonizing years in prison custody in pain, dejection and deprivation, for no just cause and reason.
Similarly, the best, the fairest and most freest election ever conducted in Nigeria’s history, which was widely believed to have been overwhelmingly won by business mogul, the Late Chief MKO Abiola, a prominent Yoruba son, was not only criminally annulled by the Northern Hausa and Fulani feudal lords, the man at the centre of the electoral injustice who should have been celebrated, was arrested, detained and eventually murdered in detention. Chief MKO Abiola was killed by the power blocs within the military hierarchy of Hausa and Fulani and their collaborators because he is a Yoruba man. We doubt it, that if MKO Abiola had hailed from any part of the Northern region, such injustice wouldn’t have been meted out to him. Yoruba Nation has lost one of her own investments and the gruesome murder of late Chief MKO Abiola would continue to haunt those who contributed to his untimely death, in prison custody.
The education sector which had enjoyed tremendous huge investments in Yoruba Nation was not spared too. It was reduced to shambles through the incomprehensible bad policy decisions, to thwart the efforts of the Yoruba people which had placed maximum premium on the education of their children. Indeed, Yoruba children who had done excellently and exceptionally well in both secondary and higher institutions qualifying examinations with over 200 top scores, cannot get through the admission process into Nigeria federal universities.
The Fulani herdsmen’s children, their brothers and sisters on the other hands, without prerequisite qualifications and who are by any standards, couldn’t measure up to the benchmarks, were given direct automatic admission under the obnoxious quota system to study the most lucrative, profitable and highly prosperous professional courses. Usually, the brilliant students of Yoruba Nation comprising our sons and daughters are deprived of their legitimacy. We should not also forget the federal character clauses smuggled into the unitary constitution, to create inequalities are not only to draw us back, but slow down the wheel of our progress, so as frustrate and tie our people down.
WHAT ARE WE RESTRUCTURING?
This is the question which a number of opinion molders have asked before and till the present moment, there haven’t been any meaningful definition of restructuring in the context of our unfavourable economic and fiscal policy. Rhetorically, they have the desire to know about what is left of Nigeria to restructure. Therefore, it is necessary to tie these agitations for restructuring Nigeria to the apron of the mentality of the Fulanis who believe in domination, exploitation, injustice, stealing of our commonwealth, abduction and kidnapping for ransom, killings and other outrageous atrocities.
Unfortunately, little or nothing has been done by the federal government to address these seemingly endless injustices, particularly the security challenges confronting us in Nigeria and the nonchalant attitudes of our political leaders in Yorubaland, who are their internal collaborators. In addition, the Fulani people who were illegal immigrants into the Southern part of Nigeria, for their parochial and selfish driven policies, equally import violence to other hitherto peaceful settlements, communities and villages across Nigeria, with the forceful intents of annexing indigenous territories. All these and many more psychological, social, cultural and fundamental issues are what we should restructure? The answer is NO! No one restructures such mental incapacities.
However, the truth about it is that these challenges have continued to stare us in the face since the Fulanis migrated from Futa Jallon Highlands to Sokoto and started their so called jihad. As a result of their forceful domination, they brutally killed their hosts and took over everything belonging to the said hosts. Interestingly, our forefathers stopped their irrational mentalities in the battle of Osogbo in 1844, when they went beyond their boundaries. So, the challenges have always been there from the time, immemorial.
Meanwhile, the amalgamation episode by Lord Lugard and his wife in 1914, was a political misadventure and disaster. Unfortunately, we kept on pretending at a time when we ought to have proactively undermined their ability to annex our resources, and take over our economic investment portfolios. Often times, we have waived their atrocious behaviors away without any remedial attempt, at fighting back with our native mechanism which till date, is still our most reliable weapon of defence.
Most times however, we have forgiven their criminalities because of our innate human feelings, coupled with our hospitality gestures which has endeared us in the minds of our comity of friends. Our civility, enviable tradition and culture which are futuristic makes us to have forgiving traits. Today, we are being prepared for total annihilation. God forbid! Everywhere is now chaotic to say the least. There is apprehension in the land. Civilians and military personnel are either being killed, abducted for huge ransom running into millions of Naira, there is absolute, wilful and unrepentant destruction of our hard earned human, and natural resources.
Furthermore, our women and girls are raped and forcibly taken into forests as wives to cook and “manufacture” children for their abductors. Our farmers too, cannot farm in their respective farmlands, as these lands have been forcefully occupied by the Fulani herdsmen. Anyone who dares challenge their authorities, is summarily wasted by AK47 carrying terrorists and bandits.
All positions within the federation called Nigeria, from security which includes the army, air force, navy, oil, mineral resources, ports, customs, immigrations, judiciary, etc., whether political or administrative, were intentionally occupied by the Fulanis, all in the fulfilment of Fulanirisation agenda of President Buhari and his Fulani land grabbers, terrorists and murderers.
Upon all these glaringly feasible outrageous atrocities, AFENIFERE is still preaching the gospel of restructuring Nigeria which was once preached by the Cicero of Nigeria politics, late Chief Bola Ige, former Minister of Justice who himself was brutally murdered in his home by yet to be identified unknown gunmen, over his recommendation of restructuring Nigeria, as a panacea for the sustainable economic and political development of the country.
We of YEU hereby with humility, ask AFENIFERE that, since the Yoruba group have been canvassing for restructuring, who has answered them or made any overt move to accede to their request? There is no one in authority to the best of our knowledge, who has answered them. In other words, the clamour for restructuring, is nothing but a fruitless noise making exercise.
Ideally, AFENIFERE should join hands with all patriotic Yorubas to work out acceptable modalities to gently exit Nigeria, for the betterment of our progressive union and growth, which had been thwarted by internally sponsored revolutionary movement. Restructuring Nigeria under the present framework will end up in disaster. Everyone is now well informed, wiser than before and alive to their constitutional and statutory obligations.
On the final note, all efforts, resources and time should be channeled to the more progressive initiatives which will benefit Yoruba Nation, at both short and long runs. Whatever be the intentions of those championing the course of restructuring Nigeria, is their personal opinion. It should not override our collective reasoning. The overall interest of the generality of Yoruba Nation, supersedes the parochial and selfish interest and agenda of evil machinations of Nigeria architectural designs.
In conclusion, the Yoruba people are a unique and more enlightened tribe. In view of the oppression and injustices which Yoruba Nation had experienced for over sixty years, the best decision is one already taken by ILANA OMO OODUA, to wit, peaceful disengagement from the contraption called Nigeria. By this decision, we stand, that YORUBA EMANCIPATION UNION (YEU), is for independent Yoruba Nation. Our collective desire is the actualization of Yoruba nation, and we shall settle for nothing less.
AFENIFERE is only a group of people of Yoruba extraction, AFENIFERE is NOT the voice for the generality of Yoruba people. AFENIFERE only spoke on behalf of its members only. By so doing, we throw the campaign for the restructuring Nigeria and the amendment of the fraudulent 1979 constitution overboard and instead, embrace independent YORUBA NATION.
God bless the good people of Yoruba Nation!
Thank you!
Signed
Prof EFG Ajayi Pa Demola Fatukasi Otunba Mark Adesanya Dr. Demola Akanbi Comrade Bode Olasinde Dr. Ezekiel Jide Falola Prof J Olufemi Olapade
Dr. Idowu Steven Engr. Olu Olu Aiyegbusi Pastor Joel Agbebi
Comrade Olusegun Olatunji Prof Joseph Aina Prof Mrs. Bukola Oyawoye
Dr. Mrs. Badru and Dr. Akintoye Okesokun
