By Sunday Ani
A new Yoruba interest group, Oodua Unity Group, has thrown its weight behind the call for an independent Yoruba nation or alternatively a regional government in Nigeria.
This was contained in a recent statement by the group’s administrative secretary, Kola Aare, to announcement its formation
Part of the statement read: “Recent developments in Nigeria with regards to politics, governance and growth have reawakened the Yoruba to the self-determination essence of our struggle for survival and development in the country. This has resulted in the clamour for the same thing, the Yoruba nation within or outside Nigeria over time.
“Today, two clear calls, not mutually exclusive, rend the air. First is the call for Yoruba nation outside Nigeria; the other is the call for regionalism.
“In this circumstance, it has become paramount for Oodua self-determination groups to come together as a pan-Yoruba coalition to aggregate their principles, visions, strategic initiatives and tactical prowess for an organised, united and systematic response to the challenge of the day.
“This is what has led to the formation of this organisation, the Oodua Unity Group (OUG). The group shall be non-partisan and will not prevent its members from involvement in parties of their choice. There must be a clear line of demarcation, and the coalition’s interest supersedes all partisan affiliations.
“Differences in approach fired internecine struggles for supremacy. This was further exacerbated by interactions with political parties and politicians within the polity in the last 25 years.
“It was during this period that the 2014 National Conference was held and resolutions deemed minimalist solutions to the crisis of the Nigerian state were taken, but yet to be implemented.
“Interestingly, the Confab resolution favours the rights of ethnic nationalities, including ethnic minorities to internal self-determination. As the crisis deepens and Nigeria continues to manifest the most palpable symptoms of a failed state, the consciousness of the Yoruba has become re-awakened.
“The resolve to act has become more virulent, even as it is clear that a common direction is yet to be charted and the various self-determination groups are far from ruminating in concert to act united.”
Aare noted that the organisation’s aims include protecting life and properties of Yoruba people, protecting and sustaining the culture and traditions of Yoruba people and fostering unity among Yoruba sons and daughters globally among others
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