By ABDULKABIR MUHAMMED

Amid national political questions, a civil society group focused on securing independence for the Yoruba nation has charged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to dissolve Nigeria, citing issues of alleged marginalisation, oppression, and inequality. In an Open Letter addressed to President Tinubu and the National Assembly, dated May 13, 2025 the Yoruba Emancipation Union (YEU) calls for the political restructuring of Nigeria, stressing the need for the independence of the Yoruba nation.

The group decries the alleged marginalisation and injustice meted out on the Yoruba nation since pre-Independence, among them the misappropriation of ?Yoruba assets? without compensation, ?the creation of Mid-Western Region from the Western Region in 1963, illegal detention and killing of prominent Yoruba leaders, annulment of the June 12, 1993 Election and the quota system in education which gives preference to northern students against the South West.?

The letter jointly signed by the Director General, Prof. EFG Ajayi, and Secretary General, Pastor Agbebi Joel Adebola, reads in part: ?Since 1960, the Yoruba race has been denied opportunities to develop at its pace.

?It was only in Western region that Mid-Western region was carved out in 1963 after Chief Awolowo had been thrown into jail, whereas minorities in Benue-Plateau and Ijaw-Ogoni axis of Northern and Eastern regions have been agitating for their separate regions.?

The letter reads further: ?Many political machinations and economic crises were orchestrated by the past rulers of Nigeria to stop and stagnate the Yoruba people from developing at a faster rate than the other regions. Political turmoil and crises were deliberately engineered by the rulers of Nigeria in the South Western Nigeria. It was only in the South Western Nigeria that Emergency Rule was declared by Tafawa Balewa government in 1962 after some internal political disagreements. It was only in the South Western Yoruba that our leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was jailed even though many other regions had more serious political issues.

?A coup detat organised mainly by the Igbo soldiers on 15th January 1966, unleashed killings on many Yoruba military and political leaders. No Igbo leader was killed ? they were tipped off to escape the sordid acts. Another revenge coup detat of 29th July 1966 by the Northern military men, disrespected and callously maltreated the most senior Yoruba military officer who was supposed to take over power. The Northern elements refused to allow him to take over but chose a junior officer from the North, a Lieutenant by rank in the name of Yakubu Gowon, to take the place of Brigadier Ogundipe, a man of Yoruba extraction, in South Western Nigeria.?

The Yoruba Emancipation Union is demanding a peaceful secession of Yoruba, stating that the amalgamation of the Southern and the Northern regions in 1914 did not reflect the will of the people.

?There was nowhere and at no time, where the people of Nigeria agreed to make a constitution; there was no plebiscite or referendum conducted by the government for the people of Nigeria, the consent of the people of Nigeria was not sought and we did not give any assent to any constitution, at any time,? YEU says in the 23-page letter.

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