By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Yoruba National Youths, both Home and Diaspora, have cautioned traditional rulers in the South West over alleged plans to jettison Yoruba nation’s autonomy
The youths decried the roles of some monarchs trying to truncate and compromise the interest of the Yorubas for monetary purposes.
In a letter dated 30th October, 2024, titled: “A letter of Honour and Respect to all Yoruba Obas from the Yoruba Nation Youth” signed by the Yoruba National Youth Leader Diaspora, Prophet Ayodele Ologunloluwa and Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole [Omayor] homebase advised that the monarchs to consider the collective will and aspirations of the Yoruba people
The First Yoruba Obas Summit is slated to host on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Monarch Hall of Oba Elegushi Royal Palace, Ikate, Lekki, Eti Osa, Lagos.
The summit is expected to address some challenges facing the Yoruba heritage, foster unity between the traditional institutions and leaders, and provide a solid foundation for socio-economic integration, infrastructural growth, and human resource development throughout Yoruba land.
The youths in the letter warned that ignoring the collective will and aspirations of the Yoruba people may lead to a disconnect between Yoruba leaders, and the rulers on one hand, and the masses of the region on the other, with serious potential for causing division and unrest
“We Yoruba youths kick against re-amalgamation of Nigeria. We are assuring the Yoruba people that the Yoruba self-determination struggle is on course and moving surely towards its victorious goal”, the youths noted
The letter reads below
A LETTER OF HONOUR AND RESPECT TO ALL YORUBA OBAS FROM THE YORUBA NATION YOUTH
We hope this message finds all our Yoruba Obas, the fathers of our Yoruba nation, in good health and wellbeing. We, Yoruba youths at home in Nigeria and in the Diaspora in all countries of the world, write to you with profound respect and a deep concem for the future of our beloved Yoruba people.
In recent times, there has been a growing movement among us your people expressing a desire for self-determination and the exit of our beloved Yoruba Nation from the cesspool of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This sentiment is rooted in longstanding issues that are foundational to the wellbeing and future existence of our Yoruba Nation, which cannot be resolved with the continued stay of our Yoruba Nation in Nigeria. We have laid bare our reasoning in the earlier press release which we issued on June 8, 2024, stating categorically that the exit of our nation from Nigeria is the only option that is reasonable in the circumstances of today, and the only option we will consider. We have sent the same press release as a letter to over thirty (30) presidents, prime ministers, heads of state, kings, and leaders of global organisations to bear us witness against our nation’s political leaders and our highly revered royal fathers, for a time such as this and for all the future..
As the custodians of our culture, traditions, and welfare, your roles are pivotal in shaping the path we shall tread. It is with utmost humility that we urge you to consider the collective will and aspirations of the Yoruba people. Ignoring these sentiments may lead to a disconnect between Yoruba leaders and rulers on the one hand and the masses of your Yoruba people on the other, with serious potential for causing division and unrest.
YOUTH
…. In unity we stand
Though we write this letter with deep respect as our nation’s culture demands of us, we also write it with much disappointment and dismay to confront you with our painful sufferings caused by your failure as our fathers, leaders and rulers. Brought up as Omoluabi, we have the sacred duty to be courageous and act with integrity, look you respectfully but fearlessly in the eyes, and ask you lots of questions that have much to do with the honour of your God-ordained positions and the integrity, wellbeing and survival of our Yoruba nation. Since you sit on the honoured seats of our progenitors and bear the duties of custodians of our culture and heritage, then you must be ready to honour the values and responsibilities of your office and your exalted position.
When the birds stop calling like birds and the rats stop crying like rats, when the women of the land do not bring forth in health and safety, and the land has stopped yielding its increase for the people of the land, the buck stops at the feet of the royal fathers. That is the tradition of our nation. For us as descendants of the great fathers of Yoruba history, it is unthinkable, unbearable and unacceptable that the royal fathers of our nation are cause of our multiplicity of pains.
Our royal fathers, why should you dishonour the stool you sit on? Why should you dishonour our nation’s collective heritage and culture? Why should you who are the most important persons in our nation let yourselves become lackeys to the political vagabonds who are masquerading as government officials? Why must you bend your honoured knees to enemies at home and enemies outside the home? In what world do you all live? Have you become so distant and disconnected from your people that you now seek again to sell us into new kinds of slavery in Nigeria through clandestine meetings with despicable and insatiable political office seekers?
We Yoruba people stand today at a critical juncture where decisions made will echo through generations to come. Inheritors of the high Yoruba code of honour should be guided by bravery. wisdom, loyalty, and a genuine commitment to the welfare of all Yoruba people. If the sovereignty you enjoy comes from the people, it is time you speak out for the people and send a clear message to Nigeria and the enemies of the Yoruba, both local and foreign, that the Yoruba Nation
shall stand. We ask that all Obas, within seven (7) days of the publication of this letter, should come out and declare where they stand. Any of our Obas who will not come out publicly shall be branded an enemy of the Yoruba People, of Yoruba Land, and of Yoruba heritage, prosperity, and future. Such Oba will be treated as a tyrant and a traitor, and no traitor will sit on the stool of our progenitors nor wear our progenitor’s crown.
Here is our final message. Enough is enough. We are absolutely determined that our Yoruba Nation shall not perish but shall live on and return fully to its prosperity and power. God Almighty destined our Yoruba Nation to be a great nation, and we the youths of today will stand firm and not let the weaknesses of any leaders or rulers destroy the God-ordained greatness. God Almighty made our Yoruba Nation a large, powerful, and talented Nation, nobody is going to keep our nation submerged any longer in any man-made, barbaric, corrupt, and depraved amalgam. There can be no compromise about this.
On behalf of the Yoruba Nation Youths, Prophet Ayodele Akinlolu Ologunioluwa (Yoruba National Youth Leader Diaspora.)
Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole (Yoruba National Youth Leader Homeland)