By Julius Alabi
The Yoruba National Youths have expressed their strong disapproval of the Obafemi Awolowo University’s management for their refusal to allow the use of the institution’s Oduduwa Hall for Yoruba national event on Yoruba soil.
The youths who were united in their condemnation maintained that the institution was built with monies from the then-Western (Yoruba) government.
The annual Yoruba National Unity Day event for 2024 was slated to be hosted at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, in Osun State
In reaction to the cancellation, the youths, in a statement issued by the Yoruba National Youth Leader Diaspora, Prophet Ayodele Ologunloluwa and Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole [Omayor] Homebase, described the actions of of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Adebayo Simon Bamire as uncalled for.
While criticising him and his team for not allowing the use of the hall for the celebration of 2024 Yoruba National Unity Day, the youths said it was an evidence of the university’s authority that the institution are totally against the progress and unity of Yorubaland.
“We want all our so-called politicians who call themselves leaders and even those who claim to be our cultural leaders but are all saboteurs to take note of this event and our determination to take steps to ensure such never repeats itself in our land. We shall stand to take all our inheritance back for the Yoruba people.”
The youths were left in utter disbelief and disappointment when, despite the payment and all necessary arrangements made, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Adebayo Simon Bamire, abruptly cancelled the event at the Oduduwa Hall just 24 hours before it was due to take place without providing any valid reason with the excuse that the event was a Yoruba event.
They said the action of the Vice Chancellor and his team clearly shows they are complicit in the ongoing destruction of the lives of Yoruba Youths and against the progress and unity of Yorubaland
They also accused Professor Adebayo of working in the interest of the enemies of Yorubas instead of supporting its unity, which the event was being celebrated in commemoration of the Kiriji war.
“There is no doubt that the antics of Professor Adebayo Simon Bamire and his team have been exposed. We use this opportunity to inform the Nigerian government that we remain determined to exit Nigeria as it is obvious the Nigerian government used the university authority to try to disrupt a landmark celebration in Yoruba land.”
“Now we have been vindicated that someone somewhere is sacrificing the precious blood of the Yoruba men and women, youths and children on the altar of politics for political power at all cost,” they said.
The youths emphasised: “We hereby, in very strong terms, condemn the refusal of the institution’s management led by Professor Adebayo Simon Bamire not to allow the use of Oduduwa Hall for the occasion and that the association of Yorubas with Nigeria is at an end.”
However, the Yoruba National Unity Day celebration, later held at an event hall within Ile Ife, witnessed a large turnout of people from the South West, Edo, Kwara, Kogi and Delta States.
In his address, renowned historian and leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Movement (YSDM), Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye, said, “There is no going back on Yoruba Nation autonomy.”
According to him, the Yoruba people are in dire need of their own country out of present Nigeria, saying that a lot of harm has been done to Yorubaland, and we desire to commence this process of self-determination now.
“We Yoruba people want our independent and sovereign country as soon as possible. We reject any arrangement that would subject us to continued membership of Nigeria,” he said.
Prof Akintoye commended the organisers of this year’s Yoruba National Unity Day events, both at Ibadan and Ile Ife, noting that Yoruba people are very special in their own way of life.
Three different lectures were also delivered at the occasion, which included Yoruba History and Anthropology from the beginning of creation by Professor A. O Adesoji from the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University.
Other lectures are The Kiriji War: Origin, Precursors, protagonists and the Threat of Settlement by Dr Temitope Ajayeoba, Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, and Security Concerns and Solution Options for Yorubaland and Yoruba people in present-day Nigeria by Professor Olabisi Ayodele, Department of Sociology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
They all traced the history of the Kiriji War, which ended on September 23rd, 1886, with the signing of a peace treaty.
To avoid repeating such situations, they said the Yorubas should continue to uphold peaceful coexistence among each other and allow peace and love to reign supreme all the time.
Speaking on the Kiriji War, they noted that the sound of the guns, Ki -ri – ji from the warriors, made the inhabitants of the area name the war “Kiriji’.
In his welcome address, Basorun Kunle Adesokan said, “We are celebrating the Yoruba National Unity Day as a symbol of the day Yoruba people ended the Kiriji War, adding that it would continue to be a remarkable and memorable day in the lives of millions of Yoruba people.
“Please, I am begging you not to fight yourself in whatever way. Rather, we fight hunger and oppression in our Yoruba land. If we eradicate hunger in Yorubaland, it will be a better place to live”, he added.
It was also noted that “Yoruba language may go extinct without care and that the anniversary and other Yoruba notable events must be taken seriously and properly celebrated. Yoruba is the only largest single ethnic group in Africa; therefore, we should guard the survival of our language and culture jealously,” they advised.
