A call has gone out to Yoruba sons and daughters across Nigeria and in diaspora to shun political and religious differences while maintaining togetherness, cooperation as well as unity of purpose for progress in the southwest region.
These were some of the submissions made at the commemoration of the 135th anniversary of Kiriji peace treaty signed in 1886 to herald peaceful cohabitation amongst the Yorubas.
The Kiriji war, which was one of the world’s longest inter-ethnic civil war stretching through 16 years amongst the Yoruba people, came to an end with a Yoruba peace treaty signed in September 23rd 1886 at Imesi-Ile, the present day Osun State. The treaty ushered in an era of peace, unity, brotherliness amongst the Yorubas thereafter.
The event was convergence of Yoruba elders and youths across various socio-cultural group for a better Yoruba Nation.
With a new era of misunderstanding, disunity and lack of cooperation becoming major concerns hindering the Yorubas to speak with one voice, the need to commemorate the peace treaty and raise concerns for unity and peace in fighting a common course became paramount.
Chairman of the ceremony, Elder Olawale Osun, the chairman, Afenifere renewal group in an opening address for the Yoruba assembly, harped more on the significance of the events, stressing that it was time for the Yorubas to come together.
“We have been collaborating with one another before today. We have been sending out the messages to all Yoruba people that it is time to come together to confront our problems together, to confront the enemies within together, to confront our developmental problems together and to face the needs of our people; and these can only be undertaken by those we elected to office. So to remind those we elected to office that they owe us an obligation, it is our duty to call them to question. And henceforth we have decided to continue to do so, to educate our people to stand up to the inactivity and inaction that we can see…
“Unless we are ready to take up arms, we have to keep talking to wither away the hold those in government have on us. That hold has to be released at the national level because federating units are being treated as surrogates which we are not. So we have to continue to work at this to ebb away their hold. So we will continue to talk because at the end of the day, even if we fight a war, we will still talk after that. So we will continue to talk to ebb away their hold.” Osun said.
Dr. Tunde Hamzat who represented Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye of Ilana Omo Odua, said the struggle for self determination or restructuring remained legitimate but must be achieved devoid of bloodshed.
“We want a credible regional referendum to be conducted. Don’t forget NINAS issued, on December 16th, 2016, a constitutional false majure. That is, we declared a constitutional dispute against the federal government. When you talk about 1999 Constitution, we feel that constitution was fraudulently procured. People are talking about restructuring, but you can only restructure a structure. The question to ask is, is there a structure to be restructured? Even when you restructure, that means you want Nigeria to be reinvented, yes, Nigeria is reinvent able but ab initio it has to be renegotiated. That’s the reason people are the centre are shying away from renegotiating. Let’s come to the round table to renegotiate this contraption called Nigeria.
“There is need for us to really engage the government and we will continue to do so not only because it is right, but also because it is also legitimate, and we are deploying non-violent means towards achieving that.
“We sympathise with the sentiment of the IPOB within the context of self-determination, but we diametrically opposed to the violent method being deployed towards achieving that goal.” Dr. Hamzat stated.
The Director General of DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye who also graced the event, said the commission was in support of genuine restructuring as advocated by some Yoruba groups. He called on youths to get their permanent voter cards in preparation for the 2023 general election and ensure that they vote right people into power.
Secretary-General, Afenifere renewal group, comrade Ayo Afolabi, explained that the Yorubas have resolved to chart a new course to avoid being slaves to other zones in Nigeria.
Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, Baale Ekotedo Taiye Ayorinde, the Secretary-General of Yoruba Koya, Kola Onodipe amongst others graced the event.
Chants, songs, cultural displays and other side attractions to promote cultural heritage equally added colour to the celebration.