Yoruba leaders under the umbrella of the Yoruba General Assembly held a one day conference in Ibadan, Oyo state today with a demand for regional autonomy for the Southwest within the precincts of true federalism in Nigeria.



Beside canvassing for state police, return to parliamentary system, abolition of Land Use Decree, regional constitutions and role for traditional rulers, the Assembly also resolved to set up the Southwest Constitutional Commission “for the purpose of coordinating memoranda from citizens and groups in the region towards a federal constitution for the country and of producing a constitutional framework for the region as a unit of the Nigerian federation”.



Other demands of the Yoruba listed by the gathering, include the adoption of parliamentary system, regional and state police, establishment of a Constitutional Court with jurisdiction over inter-governmental cases and petitions from elections to the National assembly, open ballot system, Yoruba anthem and flag.



The representative of Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi states, Ayo Abereoran, demanded for the creation of a separate state for the Yoruba in the two states to accommodate 14 Yoruba councils in Kwara and Kogi states, adding that the new state should be part of the Southwest geo-political zone, following the restructuring of the polity.



“Grouping with the North has separated Yoruba in kwara and kogi from their kith and kin is the Southwest and this has retarded the progress and development of Yoruba in those states. State creation have made Okun Yoruba in Kogi and Yoruba in Kwara to become more weakened, despite the fact that Yoruba occupied 12 councils and have the largest population in Kwara State.



“Willinkson Committee recommended that the people of Kabba and Ilorin Provinces can decide whether they can remain in the North or become part of the Southwest. They said they wanted to become part of the west, butbit was not implemented. We want self-determination and correction to the geographical imbalance and erroneous boundaries created by Lord Lugard”, he stated.

In their own position paper, governors of South-West states allayed the fear of the antagonists of the creation of state police, saying that there would be constitutional provisions that would guide against abuse of the security outfit.

The views of the governors were articulated by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, while speaking at the 2012 Yoruba Assembly held at the Oyo State House of Assembly, Ibadan.

According to the governors, as long as there were laws guiding the operations of state police, those who have expressed their opposition to it should be assured that it would not be subjected to abuse.

Governor Ajimobi stressed the need for Yoruba to be more aggressive in the fight against marginalization and to be more united, adding “the problem we are facing is the uncooperative attitude among the Yoruba.

“We must all fight for the course of the Yoruba. We need to be more aggressive. The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was so bold and courageous in his fight against marginalization and in ensuring the progress and development of the Yoruba nation.

“It is unfortunate that we Yoruba, who used to be preoccupied with the progress of our race, have now deviated. What we are more concerned about nowadays is acquisition of wealth and material things. This is why we have found ourselves in the present situation.

“The course of the Yoruba should not be politicized. We may not all be in the same political party but our goals and aspirations should be for the progress and development of the race. The issue is majority in unity. If we are all united, things will definitely change for the better for us in Yorubaland,’’ he said.

The governor appealed to Yoruba elders not to rest on their oars but that they should show more concern for the emancipation of Yorubaland “so that we can put an end to the issue of marginalization in the scheme in Nigeria’’.

In his welcome address, the Convener of the Assembly, General Alani Akinrinade (Rtd.) said that the forum was called to reflect on how to make Nigeria conducive to the development of Yoruba civilization.

“Today’s meeting is not to do or say anything that will detract from the unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is intended to allow us, as Yoruba sons and daughters all over the federation, to rub minds on the way out of the country’s crippling under-development, with special emphasis on the parlous state of affairs in the South-West,’’ he said.

Other speakers at the occasion, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN and some traditional rulers, all spoke on the need for unity among the Yoruba in order to address the issue of the marginalization and under-development of the Yoruba race.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the Assembly expressed the regret that Nigeria was at a crossroads after more than 50 years of independence and less than two years short of 100 years after the 1914 amalgamation.

The assembly attributed the failure of the Nigerian federation to meet the challenges of building a modern multi-ethnic democratic state to some factors including absence of a negotiated constitution by citizens, existence of a constitution that erodes the pre-military federal character of the Nigerian state, political and bureaucratic corruption as well as the menace of religious and cultural intolerance.

It also expressed concern over the commencement of cash-less policy in Lagos State while living out equally vibrant commercial centres such as Kano, Onitsha and Port Harcourt, adding “making Lagos a guinea pig of this policy amounts to a deliberate attempt to ruin the base of Yoruba economy’’.

The Yoruba, who viewed the Boko Haram menace as a sign of religious and cultural intolerance capable of destroying the unity of the country, said that the insurgency of the Islamist organization should not be settled by security forces but at a national conference designed to restructure the federation.

The Assembly expressed full support for the on-going regional integration in the South-West, canvassing that the Yoruba as an ethnic group should design and produce a common flag and anthem without prejudice to the anthems and flags of each state.

Personally, i think it will encourage rapid development of the country, stop the massive corruption killing Nigeria and put a stop to the endless demands for creation of more unviable states.