Leader of Yoruba self-determination movement, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Banji Akintoye, has praised the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, over his comments on secession.
Anaedoonline.ng reports that Obasa had declared there is nothing wrong in seeking the split of a nation and cautioned against the use of military force.
In a statement issued by his spokesman, the Ado-Ekiti born former Senator urged other Yoruba leaders to emulate Obasa by starting to speak truth to power without fear.
Oduduwa Republic: Nobody Can Stop An Idea Whose Time Has Come – Akintoye
According to Akintoye, the United Nations (UN) constitution as well as various UN and African Union conventions agree that every nationality has the right of sovereignty.
He stated that instead of threats, the government should call for dialogue on how to peacefully dissolve issues over the amalgamation of 1914 of Southern and Northern Nigeria.
“All our elected and bureaucratic public officials know what Hon. Obasa has now dared to proclaim: that every nationality in the world has the right of self-determination; that such right is inalienable,” Akintoye said.
“Majority of the people of our Yoruba nation have made it absolutely clear that we now want to assert our self-determination, separate from Nigeria, and go forth to run our own Oduduwa Republic or Yorubaland.
“Many other nationalities in Nigeria seek to assert their self-determination too, and we have announced our willingness to work with them as co-travellers seeking identical goals.
JUST IN: Lagos Speaker, Obasa Declares Support For Oduduwa Republic
“We need to warn the Nigerian authorities who say they are determined to thwart our quest. You cannot stop us or any of the other nationalities seeking independence.
“When you say you have ordered the police and military to be ruthless against us, we advise you to be aware that you might be breaking laws that can lead you into serious criminal prosecutions in international criminal courts.
“Yoruba do not wish such a fate for any of the persons who are until now our co-citizens. The truth is that you cannot stop any nationality that is presently part of Nigeria from asserting their self-determination.”
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