In a significant move for the Yoruba Nation secessionist campaign, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has submitted a petition to the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. The petition urges the UK government to intervene in the ongoing agitation for the establishment of a separate Yoruba nation in Nigeria.
While the details of the petition remain confidential, sources revealed that it centres on the Yoruba Nation’s quest for self-determination and call for international support. Igboho’s action was on behalf of Professor Adebanji Akintoye, the prominent leader spearheading the Yoruba Nation movement, who has been vocal in advocating for the independence of the Oodua nation.
Sunday Igboho was not alone in this endeavour. He was accompanied by several dignitaries, including Prophet Ologunoluwa, a Diaspora Youth Leader, Fatai Ogunribido, the Vice President of Ifeladun Apapo, Alhaja Adeyeye, the General Secretary of Yoruba World Media, and Paul Odebiyi, a member of the Yoruba Nation Movement. These figures’ presence underscores the collective effort behind the secessionist campaign, reflecting the movement’s wide-reaching support both within Nigeria and among the Yoruba diaspora.
The petition submission marks another step in the Yoruba Nation’s quest to establish a sovereign state, predominantly governed by the indigenous Yoruba people. The movement is seeking international recognition and support, particularly from influential global leaders, to further its cause.
The petition to Prime Minister Keir Starmer comes amidst a longstanding tension between the Yoruba Nation advocates and the Nigerian government. The campaign, led by Professor Banji Akintoye, has been vocal in its criticism of the Nigerian state’s treatment of the Yoruba people, calling for a peaceful separation to create an independent nation.
Professor Akintoye previously accused the Nigerian government of attempting to bribe Igboho into withdrawing from the movement. He alleged that during Igboho’s detention in the Benin Republic, a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), acting as Nigeria’s envoy, attempted to persuade Igboho to abandon the Yoruba Nation cause. According to Akintoye, Buratai offered billions of naira in exchange for Igboho’s renunciation of the struggle, presenting a document to this effect while he was still in custody.
Akintoye recounted, “Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, came to him in the prison, promising him billions of naira if he would just sign a paper that Buratai brought. That he (Igboho) should say he had renounced the Yoruba Nation struggle, that he didn’t want the Yoruba Nation struggle anymore, that he had opted out of it.”
Despite the lucrative offer, Igboho reportedly stood firm, refusing to betray the movement’s aspirations. Akintoye praised Igboho’s strength of character, emphasizing that not many would have resisted such a tempting proposal.
The Yoruba Nation movement’s petition to the UK government highlights a broader strategy to seek international backing and recognition. By appealing to a global leader like Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the group aims to draw attention to their grievances and garner support for their self-determination agenda.
The movement has garnered support from various segments of the Yoruba community worldwide, with leaders like Akintoye advocating for peaceful dialogue and negotiations to achieve their goals. They believe that international support could provide a platform to address what they perceive as systemic injustices faced by the Yoruba people in Nigeria.
As the agitation continues, all eyes are on the response from the UK government and the broader international community. With tensions still simmering, the future of the Yoruba Nation movement remains uncertain, but its leaders are determined to pursue their goal of an independent Yoruba state through peaceful and legal means.
