Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has described the agitation for Oduduwa Republic as a joke taken too far by some people.
Falana said this in his contribution to a debate on a WhatsApp platform on Sunday.
The top lawyer was reacting to the proposed protest on October 1, 2020 by a group led by a Professor of History, Banji Akintoye.
According to Falana, he was no aware that any referendum had been conducted where it was agreed that the Yoruba people of the South West should opt out of Nigeria.
He wrote: “Which Oduduwa Republic? Are these ethnic champions not carrying this funny joke too far? Where did the Yoruba people conduct a referendum to opt out of Nigeria?
“Mid West was carved out of Western Region. Western State was split into Oyo, Ogun, Osun, and Ekiti States because of alleged domination of certain Yoruba leaders.
“Have the Ekiti people mandated Professor Banji Akintoye to send them to Ibadan?
“Members of the ruling class in the South West zone are either campaigning for restructuring or balkanisation of the country.
“It is a campaign for power devolution without responsibility.
“It is a dubious struggle that does not address the security and welfare of the Yoruba people.
“The beneficiaries of free education policy are today the promoters of commercialisation of education.
“So, they have turned the children of the poor to area boys and thugs while their children are going to private schools at home and abroad.
“The ranches built in Oke Ako (Ekiti State) and Akunu (Ondo State) in the 1950s by the Western region under the premiership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo have collapsed.
“Hence, the regular clashes between herders and farmers.
“Lagos State which is part of the South West Zone is the 6th largest economy in the whole of Africa.
“The South West Zone is richest in the country.
“But the level of development is nothing to write home about because the federal and state governments have adopted the ideology of underdevelopment sponsored by the IMF and World Bank.”
Its true no referendum has been called on Oduduwa republic, but perhaps Femi Falana should enlighten us on the date a referendum was called consulting the people on being part of the country called Nigeria
I am not surprised some people are misunderstanding the well-informed position of Femi Falana here. We’re all supposed to be educated enough to know that there’s methodology even in madness. For instance, what exactly do we want? A negotiated arrangement with other components such as restructuring or a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) or a secession? Anything short of a negotiated arrangement with the other components may end up being a misadventure. Some people may call Femi Falana many unprintable names here and elsewhere for telling the truth, but the truth remains the truth.
For instance, he was asking a question as to when a referendum was conducted where the Yorubas (or a majority of them) agreed to a secession, rather than answering his question people are vilifying him! I learnt Ibadan is being proposed as the Capital, why Ibadan again? What happened to Ilesha, or Akure or even Ado-Ekiti? Must we remain subservient on a permanent basis to the Ibadans, Egbas, Ijebus etc? The answer is no! A decision in relation to the creation of a Republic within a Republic is not a matter to be treated with kids gloves. People must not act on impulse. We claim others don’t like us, do we even like ourselves? ‘Òtè dídí àti àtenuje kò jé kí a gbón’! There’s the need for us to look before we leap. My honest opinion!
Falana is a man of integrity. You guys should note in his statement that he neither support nor reject the move for Oduduwa Republic. Due to his profession and personality, he has spoken professionally and wisely. The proponents of the Oduduwa Republic should consider and ruminate over his statement. ”Àìkówóòrìn omo ejò ní n sekú pawón lékoro lékoro”.
Well , there are always two sides to a coin hence why not Yorubas will key in to this Yoruba secession or Oodu Republic issue withing Nigeria context .
Going by what we all experienced happening in the current Nigeria situation and couple with the fact that SW politics is highly sophisticated to know fact that we have freedom of choice and we do vote in line with our conscience hence this project ought to have gone through serious sensitisation of various opinion groups and associations leaving no stone unturned to achieve collective approval.
1. Political leaders irrespective of the parties they belonged .
2. Religion bodies with members cut across their denomination.
3.Traditional Kings or Obas must have representation .
4.students
5. Media houses
6.NGOs
7. Governors ,chairmen and councillors
8. Private and government institutions
9.labour and trade workers and Road transporters.
These would encourage full participation of Yorubas both young and old to embrace the idea as our own problem of living together without favouritism is achieved so that we will not inherit such from Nigeria that we intend to leave .
The conversation here is very interesting. Some of us have no regard for debate and discussion decorum. Attorney Falana put up a concern and some people are reacting negatively instead of educating us as collective Yorubas the plans put in place to deal with our ethnic diversity. I have a friend who said “delta people will not go with the Yorubas because they don’t want to begin another enslavement”. What caused the ethnic war in the past? I am Ijebu, he is Egba, she is Ekiti, Oyo is the supreme, Ijesa would say we are more educated, Igbomina will not be silent, Kogi is there, Edo-Benin, Tapa/Igbira communities will raise their voices. Yes I agree we should demand for Oduduwa Republic. Let there be a referendum where all stakeholders will agree on how the new nation will form and no section will feel marginalized to avoid putting our region in a senseless chaos. I am supporting facts that the present Nigeria is damaged beyond repairs. But we should tread the pathway with caution to avoid putting our region on the “Rwanda Lane”.
The almighty God will grant us the wisdom to do things to His glory!
The great Lawyer_Falana has just disappoited most of his lovers. Sir, the stains You put on yourself by your comment on Oduduwa Nation Agitation will forever soil xour Name and the sxmbol you have been standing for.
Anyway. A journey must start somewhere, this has made the New Generation of The Yoruba to cry out to the whole World that Our slavery in Our own Land most be Shop. For the porpose of awareness and preparation for Refrandum. A date Was made known to everybody which is 01.10.2020. Our great Lawyer should think!!!!
Yes Nigeria belong to every but every one don’t think or believe that. We are difference background. We have tried for years to ament and patch the enpatchable.
Why are we deceiving ourselves for devil sake. Yoruba thinks it will be better one day, and they are seeing good old days gone. Oma Se o. Please let Ogunde record
“YORUBA RONU” be our Oduduwa national anthem. Stop Deceiving Yourselves.
Anyone that’s not ready for Oduduwa republic can as well relocate to Sokoto and be a perpetual slave there.
Nigeria yi ti gbogbo wa ni koma gbodo baje tori kosi bomiran ti alelo ajo ole da bi ile eje ka sowopo ka fi mo sokan gbe kemi gbe ooya kajo gbe gbe kemi gbe. thanks and kudos to the oduduwa freedom fighters. But one thing that is sure and a clearer picture and revelation of Nigeria of today is our making, truth is bitter but we need to tell ourselves. The Nigeria we are seeing today we build it together to this stage and I don’t think we can put the blame of this country upon any cultural or religion and regional as the case may be. Therefore we clamours for change there we are both yoruba, Igbo and Hausa nobody is running away from the problem we course by ourselves. We are going to work together and put Nigeria in the right position we want for oduduwa and Biafra. In our right mind we can build Nigeria to the point of attraction. Let each tribes check and change our notion about Nigeria, is all about ourselves not about others me and me alone only me is the problem we are facing in this our beautiful and blessed country Nigeria. Me and me alone only me is in our bodies system that needs to be removed. If at all we are going to separate we must put Nigeria as a country in other because we build her to the best position we want by ourselves. Therefore we don’t have a place to run to! Please drop whatever you are Carrying the flag of me and me only me and let us build her again we can do it, Is possible the power to build have being giving to us let us build and not pulling down. God bless this great country Nigeria and bless you and me.
But in as much as we continued to accept and keep silent it is ok, but the damage is done and the seperation will will never stopped. The few are enjoying while the masses are suffering. No pride anymore.
No respect. Money is the god. As a proud
Yoruba man, I was not raised with money, we did not have it but all was about respect and honesty and dignity. Enjoying it today.
Yoruba let us go back to our root. If we know and think we have one as people. Be proud of it.
Please let’s stop playing the fool truly, was there any referendum? How was this decision reached? Yoruba are learned now. Let’s take cue from BREXIT. They first conducted a referendum to leave EU before rearing into actions. They reviewed trade agreements and possible plans & schematics on how to run the said new state. I support Falana please.
We are our own energy. Yes, much to loose but ALOT to gain. What have we got to loose. Why are we afraid. Courage is what
make a nation. When we speak with two voices, nobody take us serious. “E go better, Igor better nai e meke Ibo man spend thirty years for Lagos”. Are we serious OR not. No light since I was born in 1945, (except few years of British rule )
When deep thinkers are saying it loud. Well done Femi Falana. Whose mandate is Banjo Akintoye projecting? Secession without a referendum is a joke being taking too far.
To me personally, Falana’s comment is a stain on his legal credibility. What! Something spurious is going on here. What a horror movie this is! How are the mighty fallen? There’s a missing link unknown to us here.What a tragedy! Eni ti a ní kó féni loju, tó f’ata sénu. C’est tu Brutus!?
I do not femi falana is the one wrote those statements. So whoever wrote it must be enemy of Oduduwa Nation
I don’t think that Femi Falana is the one talking here. If he is the one talking, it means he is a sabotage to Yoruba nation and had collected money from the power at the top. But l trust him, as a true son of Ekiti state, He can’t do that. Let me say it loud and clear, any Yoruba sons and daughters that are not in support of Oduduwa Republic will not witness the freedom of Oduduwa Republic that is at hand now. Alale ile Yoruba yio GBE gbogbo awon Asaaju omo ile Yoruba ti ko fara mo ki Oduduwa Republic o wa MI looye, amin, ase, Edumare, Awise, Afogbohun Orisamoleee, Oooodaseee to!.