The call for the Yoruba Nation to separate from Nigeria has once again gained momentum, as key proponents of the movement, Professor Adebanji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, submitted a petition to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The petition is part of their continued efforts to seek international recognition and support for their quest to exit Nigeria.
Joining Sunday Igboho on the mission were notable Yoruba leaders, including the Vice President of Ifeladun Apapo, Mr. Fatai Ogunribido; the General Secretary of Yoruba World Media, Alhaja Adeyeye; Prophet Ologunoluwa, a Diaspora Youth Leader; and Paul Odebiyi, a member of the Yoruba Nation Movement. These individuals are part of the larger coalition pushing for Yoruba self-determination, a cause that Akintoye and Igboho have spearheaded in recent years.
Professor Akintoye, a renowned historian, has consistently argued that the treaty binding the Yoruba to Nigeria has expired, and the ethnic group should move forward with secession. He also accused former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), of attempting to bribe Igboho with billions of naira while he was in prison to abandon his call for Yoruba independence.
Sunday Igboho’s spokesperson, Mr. Olayomi Koiki, confirmed that the petition was submitted to the UK Prime Minister, though he refrained from disclosing its content. In a brief statement, Koiki said: “We can’t give anyone the content of the letter, but it has to do with our quest to exit Nigeria.”
Despite the repeated calls for secession, the Nigerian Federal Government has yet to respond to the movement’s demands. However, Akintoye and Igboho remain unwavering in their pursuit, as they continue to rally support both domestically and internationally.
Akintoye’s Previous Statements
In a previous message, Professor Akintoye highlighted the perceived atrocities committed by Fulani groups against the Yoruba people. He maintained that the only solution to these injustices is for the Yoruba to sever their ties with Nigeria, a bond that has held together various ethnic groups since the 1914 amalgamation by Lord Lugard.
Akintoye also called for the South-West governors and Yoruba monarchs to recognize September 23 as Yoruba Unity Day. He emphasized that Yoruba people are one of the most united ethnic groups in the world, with a strong sense of culture and community. According to him, the Yoruba nation is distinguished by its values of religious tolerance, hospitality, love of enterprise, and a deep respect for individual contributions to society.
“Our difficulty in finding unity over matters is not a sign of lack of unity,” he said. “It is a product of our deep belief that every individual has some wisdom to contribute, and that everybody deserves to be heard.”
Alleged Fulani Atrocities
Akintoye further voiced concerns about the increasing violence allegedly perpetrated by Fulani bandits in Yoruba rural areas. He claimed that over 29,000 Yoruba people have been killed, women have been raped, and men, women, and children kidnapped for ransom. Farms have been destroyed, and many farmers have fled their homes, leading to fears of a looming food crisis in the region. The situation, according to him, poses a significant threat to the survival of the Yoruba nation.
Support for Akintoye’s Call
In a show of solidarity, two groups from the South-West, the Yoruba Commitment Forum (YCF), led by Otunba Tayo Onayemi, and the Oduduwa United People Association (OUPA), founded by Chief Jimoh Taofeek, have expressed their support for Professor Akintoye’s advocacy for Yoruba self-determination.
