Yoruba Nation: Adeleke, Afenifere Urge Dedication To Ideals Of United Nigeria

Worried by the alleged attempt to takeover the government of Oyo State by suspected Yoruba nation agitators, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, has called for rededication to the ideals of a united Nigeria with ongoing constitutional amendments to ensure a truly federal system in Nigeria.

The governor in a release yesterday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, urged them to join the crusade for the reform of the federal system to ensure adjustments that give the states more autonomy and responsibilities.

However, to forestall a repeat of the Ibadan incident, Adeleke directed security measures around government structures in Osun State to secure the State Secretariat, the Government House and other strategic government buildings including the headquarters of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC).

Defending the Nigeria nation, Adeleke said Nigerian problems can only be resolved by dialogue within the constitutional framework, citing ongoing constitutional amendments that are restoring more powers to the states.

In the same vein, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, condemned the invasion of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Ibadan on Saturday.
In a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere said those who took the step did not act in the interest of the Yoruba whom they alleged to be representing.

Afenifere said there is no such thing as Democratic Republic of the Yoruba, stressing that “Yoruba is an important component of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And as is well-known, there cannot be a sovereign republic within an extant sovereign republic.

‘’At the moment, Yoruba are indigenous in Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States and in parts of Kwara, Kogi, Delta and Edo State of Nigeria, just as they are found in some other parts of the world.’’