By JOY ANIGBOGU, Lagos

Professor Banji Akintoye, renowned historian and leader of Yoruba World Congress (YWC), has said that with the recent admission into Unregistered Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), Yoruba nation has a stronger voice to enforce their rights as a nation, including warding off invaders from its land.

The historian maintained that government at the centre had continued to turn deaf ear to invasion of Yoruba land by Fulani herdsmen and other intruders. He stressed that with the rising cases of COVID-19 pandemic across the country and the recent attempt by Almajiris from the North to invade Yoruba land, the Yoruba people has a stronger voice to defend its people and ward off invaders.

While speaking with DAILY INDEPENDENT on Monday, Akintoye said that the invaders come into the land through forest path and sometimes they come in assisted by the military.

He said that even Northern governors were aware of the danger of invasion by Almajiris, which according to him, compelled some states governors in the North to send the Almajiris back to their states of origin.

He pointed out that if governors of the South-West decide to also resist the invasion into their states, it shouldn’t be something strange.

On the issue of getting the nod of some Yoruba politicians who would not support the ideals of UNPO because of their allegiance to leadership at the centre.

Akintoye said, “We have made it clear from the beginning that YWC has nothing to do with partisan politicians. Our interest is to protect Yoruba nation. Any Yoruba son or daughter interested in politics is free to do so, we will not obstruct. We are here to protect our people and we have a bigger and stronger platform to do so, and that is the beauty.”

He said that some Northern governors had kicked against invasion of their states by Almajiris and Yoruba governors would also do the same and anyone that had not done so, the organization would appeal to him to follow suit, even as he charged other regions to protect their areas by stopping Almajiri invasion, to contain spread of the pandemic. (Daily Independent)