We Want Regional Autonomy - Yoruba Groups

A coalition of Yoruba groups yesterday, converged on Lagos, calling for regionalism to put an end to the myriad of problems bedeviling the nation. Addressing journalists at the Freedom Park, Ojota, the groups, led by Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), said they were unhappy with the goings-on at the National Conference, especially on the recent claims of the North that it owned two-thirds of the land mass of the country. Other groups, whose representatives were at the media parley included

the Yoruba Assembly, Atayese, Agbekoya Reformed Society, Oodua Nationalist Coalition, Oodua Foundation and Egbe Omo Oduduwa in North America.

In a prepared statement read by Prince Tokunbo Ajasin, after unveiling a book that itemised the demands of the Yoruba from the conference, the group said the Yoruba wanted regional autonomy. It added that any outcome of the National Conference that failed to accommodate the right to self-determination and secession would make the dialogue an exercise in futility. “Nigeria is at a trying and testy juncture. One would therefore, expect that we all should seize any opportunity to build consensus and reclaim the country from wrong-footed ideas and practices that brought Nigeria to this sorry state when it is difficult to imagine a better future.”

“We are, therefore, baffled at the take-it-or-leave-it attitude of delegates from other ethnic nationalities, particularly the Northern delegates, who circulated a document full of fallacies few weeks ago. Those fallacies have now been exposed by the facts and figures contained in the publication we are unveiling today.

“It is inconceivable that northern leaders are the ones leading the campaign against devolution of power and restructuring of government. If any region needs a stronger federating unit with greater capacity to provide education, health, security, wealth creation and other social amenities, it is the North, where strong links exist between the level of poverty and conscription on innocent youths into extremist tendencies. It appears Northern leaders are not concerned, and indeed have no plan for the teeming youth from the region, as long as they are able to continue clinging to their hold on power,” the statement read in part.

Also speaking, National Publicity Secretary of ARG, Ayo Afolabi, said Nigeria is presently at a defining moment and all eyes are on the national conference to chart a new course for the country. “We have a country which we are not happy about. If the national conference is not going to move the country forward, then let us go our individual way.

“We have gotten to a point where we have to define our relationship.

We are not saying other nationalities should be with us but we are saying let us manage ourselves; let us manage our resources for our people. We are tired waiting for someone in Abuja to manage our problems for us,” he said.