- By Kamil Opeyemi
Former leader of the Ilana of Omo Oodua and one of the promoters of the Yoruba Nation Movement, Prof Banji Akintoye, has advised the Federal Government to declare Mrs. Dupe Abiola-Onitiri wanted over her declaration of secession from the Nigerian federation.
NPO Reports that Abiola-Onitiri, a one time governorship candidate in Lagos state had declared herself the president of the Federal Republic of Yoruba Nation on Sunday.
Her declaration came amidst confusion caused by the invasion of the Oyo state secretariat by some self-acclaimed member of the Yoruba Nation Movement. Mr. Sunday Igboho, leader of the movement and Akintoye had distanced themselves from the action of the elements who were promptly arrested after their made attempt to hoist the flag of the Yoruba Nation in the premises of the secretariat on Saturday.
A statement by Akintoye said that the Democratic Republic of the Yoruba, a group under Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, which claimed responsibility for the attack has no connection with the Yoruba Nation organisation in any way.
The statement partly read: “At about the time of the morning on Saturday 13th of April, 2024. It was the Muslim weekend Holiday. We received a report that a group of armed Men had stormed the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State.
“Upon the receipt of the report, the Nigerian security troops immediately mobilized to the scene and cordoned off the secretariat.
“We later understood who these armed men were after Nigerian security engaged them, they were observed to be Dupe Onitiri-Abiola (The widow of the late M.K.O Abiola) agitator group in military camouflage and red berets, who invaded the secretariat in buses and bikes.
“The invader spelt out their name to be Democratic Republic Of The Yoruba, a group under Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola.”
It added, “We will like to make a clear expression here, that Yoruba Nation Movement has nothing to do with Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola and group.” Akintoye also explained the different the group Abiola-Onitiri leads and his own organization.
He said “Their organization (Onitiri-Abiola) is different from our movement. We are Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Movement (YSDM), our Yoruba Nation is registered by the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) under Prof. Adebanji Akintoye.
Their organisation is Democratic Republic of the Yoruba (DRY) under Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola.
“The administrative managements are different, the people in the Yoruba Nation are law-abiding, Yoruba people with polite orientation. But, the Democratic Republic People of Dupe Onitiri are arrogant and rude, aggressive and militarized.
“The official media platforms of communication are different. Yoruba Nation under Adebanji Akintoye uses the Yoruba World Media, streaming from the U.K. While Democratic Republic under Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola uses the Ijinle Marcus Media, streaming from Turkey.”
He said Nigerian media should not mistake his group for Onitiri-Abiola’s group, adding that “ignorance is not an excuse, a journalist must do his/her due diligence before reporting a story.”