Akintoye writes Buhari, begs for negotiation, audience over Yoruba Nation agitation

Leader of the Yoruba self-determination struggle, Prof. Banji Akintoye, has begged President Muhammadu Buhari for a direct negotiation towards the realisation of Yoruba nation’s self-determination and the establishment of sovereign nation-state.

A letter signed by Akintoye, under the name of a United States of America based Foundation called Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, on behalf of the Yoruba people, said the movement want the Nigerian government to set up negotiation team that will meet and dialogue with Yoruba nation’s representatives not later than September 30, 2022.

The octogenarian said the process became necessary considering the false hope of unity promoted by the British colonial officials and imposed on all at Independence has not been achievable in the past sixty years of Independence.

The letter reads, “Rather, not only has unity proved impossible to achieve, outright anarchy has taken over.

“We Yoruba, therefore, seek to discontinue our association with Nigeria, and to do so in an orderly and peaceful manner.

“Because we are an ancient civilization with solid modern achievements in education today, and a people with an old tradition of accepting and interacting smoothly and productively with various peoples throughout our history, we can live harmoniously with ethnic and cultural diversity in the same country.”