The Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, led by Professor Banji Akintoye and Sunday Adeyemo (popularly known as Sunday Igboho), has issued an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, requesting the peaceful secession of the Yoruba people from Nigeria. The letter, dated April 17, 2024, and co-signed by Akintoye, Igboho, and Ola Ademola, has intensified political tensions within the country.
In the letter, the movement leaders formally requested that President Tinubu establish a negotiation team within two months to discuss the peaceful exit of the Yoruba regions from the Nigerian federation. This request follows a violent incident last week, where armed agitators attempted to raise their flag over the Oyo State House of Assembly.
While condemning the violence, Akintoye and Igboho emphasized their commitment to achieving their goals peacefully. They addressed the letter to President Tinubu, highlighting the continued violence perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen in various parts of Nigeria, including the Yoruba region.
The Yoruba Self-Determination Movement accused the Fulani of widespread killings, destruction of farms and villages, as well as kidnappings, leading to instability and famine. They claimed that since 2015, as many as 29,000 Yoruba people have been killed by the Fulani.
“That the Nigerian Federal Government shall, within the next two months, but not later than June 15, 2024, inform us Yoruba Self-determination Movement that the Nigerian Federal Government has graciously agreed to our proposal for negotiation and that they have set up a negotiation team that will meet and have a dialogue with our Yoruba Nation’s negotiation team.
“That the Nigerian Federal Government shall invite the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, to send observers to the negotiation meetings.”
The group expressed dissatisfaction with the calls for restructuring, stating that it would not keep the Fulani marauders away from the Yoruba homeland. Instead, they requested the peaceful secession of the Yoruba nation from Nigeria.
In the letter addressed to President Tinubu, the group outlined its demands, including the establishment of a negotiation team by the Nigerian Federal Government and the involvement of international observers from the United Nations, African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the negotiation process.
The Yoruba Self-Determination Movement promised to provide the list of its negotiation team as soon as it received a response from the government regarding its request for negotiation.
