Professor Banji Akintoye, National Leader of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, has called on governors and traditional rulers of the South West to declare September 23 as Yoruba Unity Day, amid heightened calls for the separation of the Yoruba Nation from Nigeria. In a statement commemorating the anniversary of Yoruba Unity Day, Akintoye highlighted increasing insecurity and alleged that Fulani bandits have killed over 29,000 Yoruba people, while engaging in other atrocities such as rape, kidnapping, and the destruction of farmlands.
Akintoye, a respected historian, emphasized that the only viable solution to safeguard the Yoruba people and their land is to push for Yoruba Nation's secession. He lamented the deteriorating security situation, saying, "The Fulani people who are determined to seize land for a homeland of their own, are daily killing our people, raping our women, and kidnapping our children." He urged the South West Governors and Obas to adopt the day as a public holiday in all Yoruba states.
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While stressing that the ongoing struggle for self-determination is grounded in intellectual and practical reasoning, Akintoye claimed that 80% of Yoruba people at home and in the diaspora support the movement. He also expressed concerns that the current Nigerian situation could destroy the Yoruba nation if not addressed.
Akintoye further criticized the limitations imposed on the regional security outfit, Amotekun, claiming that "Fulani people in control of the Federal Government have contrived the impotence of Amotekun." Despite the establishment of this security force, he said that insecurity has worsened across Yoruba cities.
The historian also hinted at political challenges facing President Bola Tinubu, a Yoruba native, who has faced threats of rebellion and military takeover since assuming office. Akintoye's statement intensifies the ongoing debate over self-determination and regional security within the context of Nigeria's complex political landscape.
