By Esther Sangodele
The Yoruba Self-Determination Movement (YSDM) has called on President Bola Tinubu and other stakeholders in the Nigerian project to allow the Yoruba nation to pursue independence, warning that continued resistance could lead to conflict before eventual separation.
The group made the call at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday.
The Deputy National Leader of YSDM, George Akinola, said the Yoruba had endured considerable hardship in Nigeria and should be allowed to establish a sovereign nation to address their challenges and protect their identity.
Akinola, who reiterated the group’s demand for self-determination, faulted the 1999 Constitution, arguing that the Yoruba were not adequately represented in its formulation.
He disclosed that the movement had challenged the legitimacy of the constitution in court, insisting that it lacked the input of the people it purported to represent.
“What we want is a sovereign independent Yoruba nation. Our sovereignty must be total. That is what we stand for. The 1999 Constitution does not have any input from any Yoruba person. They said, ‘We the people of Nigeria.’ Who are the people? We were not carried along,” he said.
The YSDM leader identified insecurity and the alleged abandonment of some communities as among the reasons for the renewed agitation, adding that the group was seeking to establish what he described as a commonwealth Yoruba nation.
He maintained that the movement’s quest for independence would not be affected by the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, even if Tinubu secures another term in office, the development would not deter the group from pursuing its objective beyond his administration.
“Tinubu is our brother. If Tinubu succeeds in winning the 2027 election, what happens after his tenure is over? It does not stop us from pursuing our goal,” he said.
Akinola argued that the perceived failure of federalism in Nigeria strengthened the case for ethnic nationalities to exercise their right to self-determination and safeguard their identities and indigenous rights.
He urged the Federal Government to permit the Yoruba to pursue sovereign independence, insisting that the movement remained committed to achieving its objective.
“Yoruba people are angry and fed up with Nigeria. What we desire most, at this time, is to become a sovereign nation,” he said.
