A Yoruba Diaspora group, Yoruba One Voice (YOV), said on Friday that the Oodua Republic rallies held last Thursday across the six continents of the world were significant to the destiny of Yoruba race.
In a his speach after the rally in South Africa, Secretary General of the group, Dr.Sina Okanlomo, lauded all members of the group for their commitment to the ideals of the group.
According to him, the success recorded at the rallies held across all the 176 countries of the world was a big testimony that the group was determined to seek independence of the Oodua Republic, without infringing on the rights of the people of Nigerians.
Okanlomo stressed that the group, had in a letter sent to institutions,including the United Nation, European Union, United States, African Union and the various Embassies, and that of the countries where rallies were held demanded a peaceful decoupling of the Yoruba territory from Nigeria.
“It is in the interest of the Yoruba nation to exit the current political format and build, in its place, a Yoruba nation that would live peacefully with the neighbors in accordance with international laws.
“As a group of Yoruba in the Diaspora, We are entitled to our rights. There is an urgent need for a referendum as a genuine reason for us to know the basis for our existence. We have resolved to set the ball rolling.We have stated the reason for seeking the complete independence of the O’odua Republic.
“The rallies came as best alternative because Yoruba in the Diaspora strongly owe our allegiance to Oodua Republic”, he informed.
Okanlomo, however, expressed appreciation to IPOB members that joined the rallies from their base for their solidarity and display of maturity during the rallies.
Other members of the YOV that spoke at the rallies, held in Asia,America, Britain,and Ireland Include Mr. Opaniyi Odeshina, Frankline, Olakanya, Lanre Banwo, and Dele Oshipitan.
Meanwhile, back home in Nigeria , a group of Yoruba indigenes under the aegies of “Disciples of Oodua Republic” on also held their rallies across the southwest of Nigeria. They said the rallies were held in good faith and in response to the growing calls from all and sundry for the actualisation of Oodua Republic.
” Yoruba are tired of this system.A country where the security situation is porous, with a governor was attacked severally with an array of security architecture. A country where citizens cannot hold peaceful rallies, a country ravaged by insecurity,including, killings, banditry, terrorism, and economic doom.A country where there is no fund in the national treasury, and citizens are subjected to abject poverty. Yoruba are tired of this union called Nigeria. We are entitled to our rights.
” With all these problems, there is an urgent need for a referendum as a genuine reason for us to know the basis for our existence”
In the same vein, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had in a recent statement, said the
Federal government cannot stop the agitators of Oodua, Biafra Republics by force.
He urged the federal government to accommodate the views of the agitators.
“Atiku’s advice to the FG was timely, and I think President Muhammadu Buhari needs to listen to people.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000; He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
