Youths reject Kalu’s indigene status bill, describe it as anti-Yoruba initiative
By Julius Alabi, Akure
Amid anger over a controversial proposed constitutional amendment by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, which seeks to grant indigene status to individuals who have resided in a state for 10 years or married a native, Yoruba Nation Youth, both at home and in the diaspora vehemently rejected the proposed bill.
They described the proposed controversial bill by the National Assembly as “anti-Yoruba initiative”
The Yoruba National Youths adamantly promised that they will do everything possible with their last blood to see that the bill before the House does not see the light of the day.
In a statement issued by the Yoruba National Youth Leader (Diaspora), Prophet Ayodele Ologunloluwa, and the Homebase Leader, Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole (Omayor) believe that it was a calculated measure by the Igbo and the Fulani caliphate to move by all means the Yoruba race in the history of Nigeria.
Despite the bill being highly likely to fail, the Yoruba youths believe that just by allowing the bill to be tabled in the House of Representatives by its Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has ignited dangerous social division and posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s federal structure, peace, and inter-ethnic coexistence.
“The “Igbo and Fulanisation” agenda to conquer our land most especially Lagos, Kwara and Kogi and other South-West States is not hidden, and they are using every method in the book to work towards perfecting the agenda. We do not want our Monarchs, Senators, House of Representatives members, and Governors in the South-West to be deceived by whatever method they may be using.
The bill is dead on its arrival and is strongly opposed by us. The bill is an “attempt to redefine Yoruba cultural and historical foundation.
“The Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria deserve respect for their cultural and religious heritage. Imposing Islam or any other religion on Yoruba men and women without their consent is unacceptable. Any attempts to do so will be met with resistance and consequences for those responsible.
“We know it is a hidden agenda of ethnic expansionism,”driven by the Igbo and Fulanisation community.
“We however call on our representatives at the National Assembly from the South-West, Edo, Kwara and Kogi State to similarly oppose the bill in its entirety, so that the protection of indigenous rights which is a fundamental responsibility will not be compromised.”
They warned that allowing non-indigenes to vote or run for office in states where they are not ancestrally connected would lead to serious political complications and sparked more ethnic conflict in Nigeria.
“If care is not taken, the bill will surely aggravate ethnic tension and violence in Nigeria.
The youths urged all the lawmakers from the Southwest, Kwara, and Kogi to place the interests of the Yoruba people above what they termed “potential threats to cultural and political integrity.” they warned that the bill could pave the way for demographic and political shifts that may undermine indigenous representation and resource control.
“Although, what we are much afrer now is the actualisation of a Yoruba nation because we know that Nigeria has a democracy deficit that could not be beneficiary to anyone. Our stand is on Yoruba Nation autonomy
Yoruba National Youth, therefore, appealed to all Yoruba indigenes not to abandon the quest for Yoruba Nation autonomy.
While reacting on Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar III, the security agencies should dealt with social media a “terrorist organisation” , the Yoruba youths have asked him to condemn Fulani terrorists first before pointing accussing fingers to others.
“It is unfortunate that those Fulani herdsmen that Sultan should call terrorists are being celebrated in Nigeria today.
“How can the Sultan of Sokoto call those who speak out against the unending violence of Fulani bandits “social media terrorists.” Let this sink in. We, the Yoruba people, will not be silenced. This is just the beginning.
“The Sultan of Sokoto have the audacity to label grieving voices — our voices — as “terrorists”? The only thing he protects is his legacy of hypocrisy and his tribe’s impunity.
“No ethnic group has brought more suf’fering, bloodletting and suffering to the Nigerians than the Fulani. We are coming for them soon,” they maintained
