In a bid to sensitise people in South-West on the need for restructuring, a pan-Yoruba group, ‘Yoruba Koya’, recently held a peaceful protest aimed at telling the Yoruba race to demand for the restructuring of Nigeria’s political, economic and social structures for real development. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports that the protest, which held simultaneously across all south-west states, reinforced the determination of the group to seek the welfare of the Yoruba nation.

The six states that make up South-Western Nigeria – Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos – have taken big steps towards the calls for restructuring.

This formed the submission of a launched movement on April 13, 2018, when people in their hundreds, under the aegis of the Pan Yoruba Movement Group, Yoruba Ko’Ya, marched simultaneously around various state capitals across the six states of the South-West, as a way to sensitise the Yoruba nation to the peculiarities of restructuring.


The march also provided an avenue to speak against various crimes perpetrated in the South-West, which affected the Yoruba people, some of which include: destruction of farmlands by herdsmen; attacks on citizens by herdsmen; youth unemployment; food insecurity, as well as infrastructural decadence.

The pan-Yoruba group, which is made up of artisans, students, business men and women, bankers, retired police and military officers, just to mention but a few, enjoined Nigerians, especially Yorubas to support the agitation for restructuring of the country. They also called for a reawakening of the consciousness of Yoruba people to the hidden agenda of moves aimed at negatively affecting the Yoruba nation in the scheme of affairs.

At the peaceful demonstration, members of the group, decked in customised t-shirts, carred placards that had various inscriptions such as ‘We reject kidnapping, food insecurity, youth unemployment, infrastructure decadence, corruption in public service, farmers versus herdsmen clashes;’ ‘We demand housing for all, quality healthcare services, free and compulsory primary and secondary education;’ ‘We demand qualitative and affordable education, economic and political restructuring, transparent and accountable governance,’ among others used the opportunity of the rally to create awareness for its advocacy.



In Lagos, they marched from Ikeja Shopping Mall to the State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja where they submitted a letter to the office of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. In Ibadan, the peaceful march went through Ring Road, to Agodi-Gate, Government House, Ibadan during which they sang solidarity songs.

In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, members of the Yoruba Ko’ya movement walked peacefully from Iwe Iroyin, the headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, situated at Kuto, to the Oke Ilewo Government House with their banners, handbills and public address system,aimed at creating awareness. Similarly, in Akure, Ondo State, the group converged on the popular First Bank roundabout in Alagbaka GRA and led a procession to the front of the office of the governor. Aside the march, they also distributed fliers and gave sensitisation presentations like their colleagues did in other states. Another major rally took place in Ado-Ekiti. The group gathered at the popular Fajuyi Park, going through Oke Isa to Post Office road to create awareness for their advocacy against what the state coordinator of the Yoruba Ko’ya movement, Comrade Shina Awopeju, described as “balkanisation of Yoruba hegemony.

Some of those who participated in the marches across the six states, noted that the current political situation in Nigeria called for some sense of sensitisation, as well as restructuring, as there is a seeming lopsidedness in fair inclusion of the Yoruba in the scheme of affairs.



Also identified were the state of governance; high insecurity; deplorable living conditions of millions of Nigerians; high level of unemployment among the youth, as well as the state of the economy, which they said had contributed to the need for advocating for improved standards of living.

National Organising Secretary of the Yoruba Ko’ya movement, Comrade Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, who was part of the march in Ado-Ekiti, spoke on the need for the Yoruba nation to rise up to its responsibility of ensuring sustainable development for its people.

According to him, Yoruba Ko’ya is made up of true sons and daughters of Yorubaland, who are united in the fight against mis-governance in all the six states in South-Western Nigeria and the organisation strongly rejects the current infrastructure decadence and poor economic growth in Yoruba land as a result of bad governance.

“Yoruba nation deserves much more in the current national politics in our country and we must all rise to this occasion by supporting both the economic and political restructuring of Nigeria, through a more transparent and accountable governance, especially in our region.

“We cannot continue like this and expect any positive change. It is annoying that the kaolin and limestone at Orin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State cannot be explored for economic development of my state without the permission of a minister in Abuja.

“The governor of Ondo State, Oluwaarotimi Akeredolu announced in July 2017 that Federal Government had granted his state permission to mine the bitumen deposited in Irele Local Government Area of the state, but till date, the licence has not been released officially.

“The highest oil block in Nigeria today is owned by those outside the oil producing areas. We are saying no to a unitary system in federalism uniform. I am calling on all Yoruba sons and daughters to take their destinies into their hands by rejecting the satanic marginalization of their nation.

“In 2016, Lagos State contributed 57% of the total VAT shared into all the 36 states of the federation through the federation account, yet the construction of the most economically important road in Nigeria – Lagos/Ibadan highway – remains abandoned without any justification.

“Every day, herdsmen are killing our people with security men looking elsewhere; the youths are on the streets in search of non-existing jobs. This must come to an end.”

The need for leaders to understand the importance of restructuring the nation to address the many needless challenges currently faced, was highlighted, and it was believed that such movement like the Yoruba Ko’ya, through its advocacy, could help convey the agitations of the different sub-nationals in the country to those who were in power, which would endeavour to ensure that the issues are addressed in a way and manner that is fair and equitable to all, without disrupting the sense of unity and oneness as a country.

According to the group, eminent Yoruba leaders such as Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi; Chief Deji Osibogun, Chief Executive Officer, Space FM, Ibadan; Pa Ayo Adebanjo; Professor (Mrs) Adetowun Ogunseye; Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Pa Rueben Fashoranti are its patrons.

As such, they called on the Yoruba political elite to rally round and support the Yoruba Ko’ya movement in its move to emancipate the region from continue relegation in the scheme of things in the country. They urged the leaders and major stakeholders in the region to adopt pragmatic approaches towards creating awareness and driving support for the movement for the sake of posterity.


http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/yoruba-koya-as-south-western-states-begin-movement-for-restructuring/

From South South region.

No restructuring, no 2019 election, Ijaw youths warn

Vow to stop oil flow in the region
The Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) has re-aligned itself with the position of the Ijaw elders and that of the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson on restructuring of the country, warning that the 2019 election is in danger if the presidential candidates refuse to address and support the vexed issue.

The Congress Central Zonal Chairman, Tare Porri, who spoke with newsmen after a congress held at Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Council of Bayelsa State, said Ijaw youths in unity unanimously resolved that they are standing with the leaders of the Ijaw extraction that the 2019 elections will be a referendum on restructuring.

He said: “Ijaw people’s position is being reaffirmed by the youths of the Ijaw nation. We are standing with the governor-general of the Ijaw nation to the fact that 2019 general election is a referendum on restructuring.


“Any presidential candidate must first and foremost realise that Ijaw people will not support any candidate unless that candidate believes in restructuring.”

The Ijaw youths also warned of dire consequences if the Federal Government continues the prosecution of Dan Etete and other Niger Delta indigenes in the Malabo oil deal, saying they will not hesitate to stop the production of crude oil in the region.

He said: “Today, we have also resolved on the well-talked about Malabo oil deal, this OPL issue that they have been talking about every day. The position of Ijaw people is that Ijaw youths will not be deterred and that we are standing with Dan Etete and all the stakeholders in that platform.

“And that the Federal Government should stop persecuting Ijaw people who are in the oil and gas sector; that any further attempt to silence the Ijaw people in the oil and gas industry, Ijaw youths will waste no time in making sure that they don’t take crude oil from our environment again.”

The Ijaw youths, who passed a vote of confidence on Dickson for his efforts in road construction, aligned with the governor that the 13 per cent derivation component of the excess crude in the $1 billion that has been erroneously withdrawn by the Federal Government should be paid to the Ijaw people.

http://guardian.ng/news/no-restructuring-no-2019-election-ijaw-youths-warn/

Cool please how can I join them.awa omoluwabi. This experiment called Nigeria cannot continue without true federalism and restructuring. But the dullard and this ragamuffins will not allow because of their selfish interest,imagine the president saying he was misled to sign 1billion dollars ooo.
#getpvc

Take afonjas serious at your peril. What about Ibadan declaration ?

Forget about Restructuring for it has run to ghana with mazi NNAMDI KANU.

chiagozien:
Forget about Restructing for it has run to ghana with mazi NNAMDI KANU.

So what do we do now?

AS IGBO MAN I DNT GIVE A FVCK ABOUT IT,

Infact No reasonable igbo man will join yorubas in their noise for restructuring,

just think of this,

what restructuring will be better than aburi accord,
what did yorubas do when the north break the aggrement,if not joining the north to kill easterns.

Last year they where shouting restructuring restructuring just as a tool to counter Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,now where are those noise makers.

Cooly100:


So what do we do now?

This should be what all the south agree on

At this political timing, I doubt the purpose

Yoruba has been managing Nigeria before and since independence. Restructure now to give Yoruba some Rest. I beg..

NO RESTRUCTURING ,NO ERECTION （AS IN NAIJA CASE ）

NO RESTRUCTURING ,NO SELECTION （ACCORDING TO NAIJA ELECTION ）

NO RESTRUCTURING（ NO RIGGING ）

FULL FLESHED RESTRUCTURING MUST HOLD BEFORE THE ZOO’s next Selection ,Erection nay, Election ！

All ye traitors,money mongers ！

Jokers. Nothing i mean nothing will break Nigerian neither will there be any form of restructuring. We patriotic Nigerians enjoy the current system of government

We Yoruba Muslims believe that restructuring is a ploy by our Christian brothers who are anti-north to punish the region .

We will resist it for the sake of Allah.

Ok

as long as a northerner is in power there will be no restructuring

Na so dem dey. Always busy body nothing more.

Seriously, Nigeria isn't working....Restructuring is the best. Let us all go back to our regions. Yoruba agbe wa...Ile yoruba oni parun.

te

.

Awon werey youth won yi... Who's your Nnamdi Kanu? Nonsensical movement.

diebuhari1:
We Yoruba Muslims believe that restructuring is a ploy by our Christian brothers who are anti-north to punish the region .

We will resist it for the sake of Allah.

There's nothing called yoruba muslims in yorubaland...We are yorubas first before religion...

I pray it worked

I totally support this movement and it shall be achieved.

Mark my words!

See them yoruba koya ko,Ogun agbe koya ni.....mumus

Good! I said it.First thing first-Nigeria must address it administrative /structural imbalance before determining who leads or not.Anything less is a charade.

IF ALL TRIBES CAN DO THIS. WE WILL SEE REALITY IN THIS.

NIGERIA IS TOO BIG FOR US TO BE ONE WOTH MORE THAN 500 LANGUAGES.

LETS START WITH THE 6 GEO POLITICAL ZONES FIRST AND SCRAMBLE THIS NAME NIGERIA.

LETS PART WAYS AND START FROM EACH TRIBE, THEN IF WE ALSO DONT GET IT WRITE, THEN WE ARE CURSED.

Purewatermeji:
Jokers. Nothing i mean nothing will break Nigerian neither will there be any form of restructuring. We patriotic Nigerians enjoy the current system of government

Yoruba Muslims on the loose.