The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has disowned Sunday Adeyemo, a Yoruba youth leader popularly known as Sunday Igboho for his secession move.
Kunle Olajide, secretary-general of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), told TheCable in an interview that Nigeria would be stronger if it remained as a unit.
“It is his (Igboho’s) personal desire but the present circumstances in our nation do not favour and will not make it achievable, and the fact that Yorubas have invested so much in the unity of this country and in the making of Nigeria. The tribe cannot choose to opt out without any adequate plans.
“I am not aware that the Yoruba nation or citizenship has given a mandate to anybody to desire their extinction from this country. So it is not a decision that can be taken by an individual or a group of individuals.
“Anybody who is familiar with the history of Nigeria will know that we have been together for over 100 years, even before the British came and we have Yorubas all over the country just as we have other Nigerians everywhere.
“It is not something that you can declare by fiat. In any case, our diversity in this country and our population are our strengths. Fragmentation and dismemberment of this country cannot be in the best interest of anybody,” Olajide told TheCable.
He said though Yoruba people are angry over the “ethnocentric nature” of the Muhammadu Buhari administration but the ethnic group remains part of the country.
“Yes, all of us, especially the Yoruba nation, are angry about the ethnocentric nature of the present administration that appears grossly insensitive to the cries of maginalisation from all parts of this country. Whatever the hidden agenda it is, the agenda is bound to fail,” he said.
“But we are still part of this federal government that we are so much against because of the way it is being run. The vice-president is a Yoruba man, we have ministers and governors so I don’t think anybody can ignore those Yoruba leaders and go ahead to make a pronouncement that is not in the interest of Yoruba nation and Nigeria in general.”
Olajide urged Igboho “and some of those who believe in him to exercise patience”.
