Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
The umbrella body for Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, has tackled the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and other South-West All Progressives Congress leaders for opposing “separatist agitations”.
The PUNCH had reported that Tinubu and other APC leaders in the South-West, including Chief Bisi Akande, had at a meeting on Sunday opposed Yoruba Nation, supported one Nigeria, restructuring, ranching and open grazing ban.
But Ilana Oodua through its spokesperson, Maxwell Adeleye, in an interview with The PUNCH described the APC leaders’ decision as unfortunate, clarifying that the group is for self-determination, not secession.
The group headed by Prof Banji Akintoye also said to the APC leaders that “history will not be kind to them” for “opposing the wish of the people”.
“People need to correct this. It is not secession. What we are fighting for is the self-determination right of our people as guaranteed by the United Nations Charter on Human rights and even the 1999 constitution.
“It is our right to fight for self-determination. Tinubu and others are entitled to their opinions. Conduct a poll and you will see that a majority of Yoruba people want their own nation.
“It is unfortunate that Chief Bisi Akande is present where the yearning and aspirations of Yoruba people will be denied. If his mentor, the late Chief Bola Ige – is alive, will Bisi Akande say the things he read out yesterday?
“If the likes of Tinubu, Baba Akande because of their ambition, Baba Akande are not careful, history will not be kind to them for standing against the yearnings and aspirations of the people. Without the people, they cannot be leaders,” he said.
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