Yoruba Welfare Group dissociates itself from Prof. Akintoye and Igboho’s cessation agenda – YWG
A notable socio-cultural organisation in Nigeria, the Yoruba Welfare Group has dissociated itself from the letter of agitation for the creation of a sovereign Yoruba Nation out of Nigeria which it described as needless, baseless and self-serving.
The letter, written by the duo of Prof. Banji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Igboho) seeks cessation of the Yorubas from Nigeria.
The National President of the YWG, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje urged Nigerians to disregard the “self-acclaimed Yoruba freedom agitators” from the Southwest region of Nigeria, stating that the mission of Akintoye and Igboho lacks merits and sincerity of purpose.
The Yoruba Self-Determination Movement had In a letter dated April 17, 2024, written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, seeking a peaceful breakaway of Yoruba people from Nigeria.
They cited insecurity, particularly the killing of Yoruba people by armed herdsmen from the North as the reason Yoruba people should exit Nigeria.
They argued that Yoruba people have not been well treated in Nigeria, maintaining that their welfare would be guaranteed under a separate sovereign entity to be called the Yoruba Nation.
However, in a press statement signed by Elder Yinka Salaam, the media aide of Comrade Alawuje, and which was made available to journalists on Monday, Alawuje said YWG supports the Nigerian project of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who in turn believes in a united Nigeria.
The press statement reads:
“We the members of the Yoruba Welfare Group hereby urge the Yoruba Nation agitators to join us to support Mr President to move Nigeria forward. Otherwise, they should openly declare themselves as opposition to the government of the day.
“This is a nation that Chief Obafemi Awolowo struggled and worked hard to lead throughout his life. Thirty years later, Chief MKO Abiola also made an attempt but died in the process. Exactly thirty years later, another Yoruba son made an effort and eventually became the President of the Federal Republic with the support of all Nigerians, cutting across all ethnic and religious groups.
“Now where are they really coming from, and what do they mean by a sovereign Yoruba Nation? Who appointed them? Who are they representing? Who gave them the mandate and how many Yorubas believe in their self-imposed agenda?
“Some of their excuses in the past was that the Hausa-Fulanis dominated most sectors, but today, that has become history, as Mr president based his appointments on competence, capability and capacity of the tested and trusted hands.
“Is it not time we joined hands to support our illustrious son to build a legacy that will endure and linger in the hearts of Nigerians for centuries? Shouldn’t we be proud of producing one of our best as Nigerian president?
“The gang-up of any Yoruba seeking for a separate Republic under Tinubu’s government is completely nonsensical and totally misplaced, and such disposition will only present Yorubas as ungrateful to the rest of Nigerians who supported and voted Tinubu to office.
“It is obvious Prof Akintoye who had waited to be recognised and given an appointment after Tinubu’s victory is protesting his exclusion. This is the reason behind his resumed agitation.
igboho on his part is confused. He doesn’t really know what he wants, dilly-dallying between his baseless demand for an independent Yoruba Nation and the release of a terrorist and fugitive Nnamdi Kanu. So, is Adeyemo Igboho also fighting for the cessation of the Igbos?
“Without doubt, it is obvious his agitation is laced with a hidden agenda. Or why are they asking Tinubu, to within two months, set up a negotiation team to fashion out the exit of Yoruba people from Nigeria.
“Do we need a soothsayer to tell us the link between their letter, which came one week after some masked agitators armed with weapons invaded the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan and attempted to hoist their flag on the premises of the state House of Assembly?
“These people do have hidden personal agendas and they are only scheming to use us to achieve their diabolic goal.
“YWG on behalf of the entire Yoruba sons and daughters across the world insists that we are Nigerians and no one can ignorantly separate us from our other ethnic groups in the country.
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“Let Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba youths beware of the hidden agenda. They should not lend themselves to be used by selfish individuals.
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