The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, on Thursday, 11th day of June gave his thoughts on the state of the nation pointing out that should the Yoruba nation decide to move on as a separate Oodua nation, he would have no choice than to support the wishes of his people, his statement was further highlighted by references he made to the self determination and emergence of new nations like Eritrea from Eithiopa, South Sudan from Sudan and the proposed July 10 emergence of a new Southern nation from Cameroon. He reaffirmed that such rights as rights of self determination and sovereignty of a people are not criminal.
Aare Adams made this known in a statement received by Obinwannem news, he expressed joy that part of the dreams of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) under his chairmanship, has been accomplished with the celebration of June 12 as the authentic Democracy Day in Nigeria history.
Adams, further stated that he regretted that despite the sacrifices of the activists and pro-democracy organisations , democracy is yet to take its lead in Nigeria.
He further noted that should the Yoruba people choose self- determination over restructuring, he would align with the choices of his people.
The statement reads: “If the Yoruba people say restructuring is too late Aare, now we need full self determination as Oodua Republic, I’ll be the last person to be against them and I will support them, there is no crime to say you need a new nation within a nation.
The Aare cited the situation in Cameroon where talks of a new nation backed by the UN emerging from Cameroon is gaining intensity by the day, a welcome development expected to restore peace to the troubled Ambazonia region where clashes between the government of Cameroon and a larger part of the Southern region over the latter’s right to self determination has claimed over 3000 lives and displaced millions.
“The Southern Cameroon is leaving based on what the United Nation said, in July 10, they’re moving out of Cameroon. We have the Southern Sudan move out of the Sudan, Eritrea moved out of Ethiopia, the India, Bangladesh and Pakistan moved from India.
When you listen to Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1947, ‘He said Nigeria is not a nation, its mere geographical expression’;
Even Tafawa Balewa did not believe in the unity of Nigeria, Ahmaud Bello did not believe in the unity of Nigeria until when they have the power in their palm.
On restructuring, the Aare maintained that the problems of Nigeria will not be solved 100 percent. “With restructuring, we may not witness war, we may solve our problems at least 60 percent not 100 percent.
He further voiced his support for the rising calls for Yoruba self-determination saying he would support the emergence of a new Oodua Republic for the Yoruba.
“By the time we gauge the acceptance of the Yoruba people {on Oodua Republic}, we realize that the majority of Yoruba people want Oodua Republic, I will not be against it, I will support it”, he added.
Aare however, expressed hope that true democracy will someday prevail, a noteworthy speech as the country celebrates Democracy day on June 12, newly designated by the government to commemorate what is regarded as the best democratic election in Nigeria, MKO Abiola was elected president but was denied victory as the military junta headed by Ibrahim Babangida cancelled the elections.
““The struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate given freely to late MKO Abiola in a free and fair election then was a long and hard one, to survive the military onslaughts.
“Those of us that are alive today still remember those moments with a lot of regrets, and surprises.
“We think of how we are able to survive those trying periods. The journey for this democracy has been a tortuous one.
“Today, our democracy is, at best, one step forward and five steps backward. But in all, we thank God that we are still alive to tell the story.”
Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News
