Foremost Yoruba diaspora organization, Yoruba One Voice (YOV), has insisted that the only solution to the myriads of problems bedeviling Nigeria is to embrace regionalism as the best option to accommodate the yearnings of other ethnic nationalities or review the country’s existence through renegotiation.
Rising from its annual conference held via zoom, YOV in a Communiqué, maintained that the present situation in the country depends on the will of the people to put their destiny in their own hands,
insisting that the apex Yoruba diaspora group will not fall for the bumpy traps of detractors in its determination to seek liberation of the Yoruba race.
The Yoruba diaspora group, while condoling with the government of Ondo and the people of the state on the Sunday’s killings of scores of worshippers of St.Francis Catholic
Church,Owo, also blamed the Federal Government for failing to secure the country, saying attack on the Catholic church where scores were killed, the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto and that of a Catholic Church priest in Abuja are nothing but signs of imminent war in Yoruba land.
YOV, however, urged all Yoruba sons and daughters, both home and in the diaspora to get themselves prepared for imminent war.
Meanwhile,in his address, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, who is also the global convener of the group, stated also that the multifaceted problems affecting Nigeria can only be solved through regionalism.
Iba Adams, while explaining the rationale behind YOV’s quest for regionalism or renegotiation as
solution to the problem of the country, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the emancipation of the Yoruba race, saying the Yoruba diaspora group will continue to use all possible means to seek the blessing of the international community.
“YOV has done creditably well in putting up this kind of conference annually to raise our hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“So, as the country is going now, it is no doubt that Nigeria is heading to an inglorious descent. As far as I am concerned, it is either regionalism or we renegotiate the totality of Nigeria’s existence,” he said.
In his lecture, Olanrewaju
Hassan Arowojede, spoke on the multi-faceted failures of Nigeria and sacrosanct need for a secured Yoruba nation.
While highlighting the various problems of the country, he added
that the proponents of Yoruba nation have a duty to forge ahead in their resolve to achieve the dream of the race.
YOV also distanced itself from the purported case by some northern groups seeking referendum at an Abuja High Court.
The Yoruba diaspora organization faulted the procedure, saying a legal action in Abuja against a Fulani government is like a bumpy trap aimed at frustrating the various efforts of some self determination groups that are working toward seeking referendum.
Citing the failed attempt of the Catalonian to seek referendum in Spain,YOV insisted that the Yoruba diaspora group would not fall for the tricks of the northern groups, which, it said, was a ploy to distract other groups from embarking on the struggle.
“The case of the Catalonian in Spain is still fresh in our memory.
We cannot fall for their tricks as it is evident that the failed Catalonian attempt to seek referendum was due largely to alleged irregularities during the voting process, which, according to international observers didn’t meet the minimum international standards for elections.”
Olumide Okunmade in his remarks urged all members of the coalition to embrace unity and work towards correcting the ills of the past.
He admitted also that a lot needs to be done in building a formidable platform for all Yoruba across the world.
YOV conference moderator, Prince Dosumu, reiterated the need for all members of YOV to be committed to the ideals of the organization, saying the situation in Nigeria has been designed to favour a section of the tribe at the expense of other ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria.