Invasion of Oyo Assembly: Afenifere Hammers Yoruba Nation Agitators

Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, on Sunday, rose in stout condemnation of the invasion of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Ibadan, on Saturday, by some Yoruba nation agitators.

In a statement issued by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, in Abuja on Sunday, the group declared that the masterminds of the invasion did not act in the interest of the Yorubas whom they purported to be representing.

Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, woke up to confusion and chaos on Saturday, April 13, 2024, when a group of people, who claimed to be Yoruba Nation agitators, laid siege to the Oyo State House of Assembly, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, the political capital of Yorubaland.

In a viral video, the group declared that a ‘Democratic Republic of the Yoruba’ had been created out of Nigeria, invoking the spirits of the land. In another video clip, a woman, Mrs. Dupe Onitir-Abiola, made the same declaration vociferously saying they had the backing of the gods.

But Afenifere moved swiftly to condemn the action, saying there was nothing like Democratic Republic of the Yoruba. Afenifere did not stop there. They also demanded the arrest and diligent prosecution of the perpetrators and their masterminds.

“Yoruba is an important component of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement reads in part. “And as is well-known, there cannot be a sovereign republic within an extant sovereign republic.

“At the moment, Yoruba are indigenous in Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States and in parts of Kwara, Kogi, Delta and Edo States of Nigeria, just as they are found in some other parts of the world.

Though Ajayi, the Afenifere scribe, conceded that there were a lot of dysfunctionalities in the way Nigeria was being run, he maintained that the sad situation was a cumulation of the ineptitude and mis-governance by successive administrations in the country.

“Solutions to the shortcomings do not lie in violent divisions,” the statement continued. “Rather, what we should strive for is how the perceived wrongs in the country can be made right.

“Afenifere is of the strong view that President Bola Tinubu administration is taking steps to rejig Nigeria in a manner that would make the country become one that every citizen would be proud of soonest.

“Restructuring the country is a sure way of accelerating this.

“Afenifere strongly believes that when restructuring is effected with constituent entities allowed to be in control of their own affairs, Nigeria will become beneficial to everyone.

“This is why we are relentless in our agitation for restructuring.”

Afenifere added that the manner by which the agitators embarked on their misconceived mission clearly indicated that they did not apply sense whatsoever.

According to the statement, “How can a person or group of persons think that invading a state House of Assembly is tantamount to the creation of a Federal Republic?

“Genuine Yoruba normally think things through before they take actions, especially a fundamental action such as forming or declaring a nation.

“The Yoruba don’t act that way. Rather, they apply wisdom and intellectualism in major steps they want to take. They apply tact.

“They demonstrate finesse and shun violence as much as possible. Examples of this attitude abound – going by their reactions to some major issues that occurred in the country in recent times.

“Afenifere calls for a thorough investigation of the incident with a view to ensuring that perpetrators and those behind the scheme face the wrath of the law maximally so as to serve as a deterrence to others.”