BEVERLY HILLS, May 22, (THEWILL) – Protesters, under the auspices of the Ilana Omo Oodua, agitating for a separate Yoruba nation, on Saturday stormed Akure, the Ondo State capital in continuation of their support rally in all the South-West States.
The protesters gathered at Isokan Roundabout, Akure, calling for self-determination. They brandished posters that read, “Support Orile Ede Yoruba.”
This is coming despite the warning by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, earlier in March that agitators for Yoruba nation should stay away from the state as his people had elected to stay in the Federal Republic of Nigeria as constituted at present.
Spokesman for the group, Maxwell Adeleye, had assured that the rally would hold without violence or any form of brigàndage.
He said the rally would relentlessly and vociferously demand for the Oduduwa Republic.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deployed its personnel to the Isokan Roundabout, venue of the rally, where women, youth, okada riders all gathered for the rally.
One of the agitators, Tosin, said: “We know why we call for Oduduwa nation. We know how hard it is to survive right now. Should we be slaves to the Hausas? No. God has given the Yorubas all the resources needed for survival.
“We are a nation; we are not forcing this. Someone from Osun State can understand someone from Kwara State, another from Ekiti will also understand. We are to rise and support one another so we can be free from bondage. By the time we gain independence, we will have enough; our farms will be safe, no Fulani herder will bring their cows on our farmlands to destroy it.”
Another agitator, Deborah, lamented the rate of unemployment and insecurity in the country.
She said: “Enough is enough. We are tired. There are no jobs for the youth, the security architecture is terrible. No food, no security; everything is now expensive. We are free-born, not slaves. We shouldn’t be living as slaves. The independence of the Oduduwa nation will be actualized because we are all in support of this move.”
Spokesman for the Ondo Police Command, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro, said the police would not allow miscreants to use the rally to cause havoc like what happened during the #ENDSARS protest.
A week ago, several Yoruba youths, under the aegis of Omo Oduduwa United, also stormed the streets of Osogbo, Osun State, to agitate for the Yoruba nation despite threats by security operatives.
About the Author
