Group warns Oduduwa Republic agitators against dragging Yoruba into war

Etim Effiong

National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, Olusegun Bamgbose, has warned Oduduwa Republic agitators against dragging Yoruba race into unprofitable war.

According to him, Yoruba should not allow any individual or group to drag them into war or disrepute and urged them to halt the agitation for Oduduwa Republic.

Bamgbose noted that the agitation is worrisome and is largely due to the insecurity in the country and President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to address it.

He denounced any attempt for secession and warned those agitating for Oduduwa Republic to bury the idea saying that “because it won’t work.”

“Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was thrice a major contender for the highest office in Nigeria, he failed, but at no time, in his lifetime, did he advocate for Oduduwa Republic. When he lost in 1983, he still never advocated secretly or publicly any form of secession.

“I wonder what the agitators know about Nigeria, that Awolowo never knew. What have the agitators experienced that Awolowo never experienced? He was unlawfully jailed, humiliated, deprived, but he never in any way tampered with the unity of Nigeria.

“One will want to know how old these agitators were in 1960? How old were they in 1967 when the civil war broke out? Many of them were not even born by then. Are the agitators claiming to be more informed that late Chief Obafemi Awolowo?

“Yoruba race should not be dragge into unprofitable war. Our people use to say, ‘Ori bibe ko ni ogun ori fifo, (the solution to headache is not to behead yourself) Our unity is sacrosanct, it is never negotiable.

“Anyone or group advocating for Oduduwa Republic doesn’tdoesnt really understand the dynamics of Yoruba race. My Presidential ambition will never make me not to speak the truth.

“I am proud to be a Nigerian. I’ve always told my supporters that I am determined to be the next President of Nigeria, but I’m never desperate. There are options to advocating for Oduduwa Republic. I want to urge all Yorubas never to support any form of secession.

“It is an ill wind which will blow no one any good. We should not allow anyone to drag us into war or disrepute. The quest for Oduduwa Republic should be jettisoned.

“We must not allow the labour of our heroes past to go down the drain. Nigeria is better as one entity no matter our challenges.

“We should not allow our present challenges to destroy our future. We have a very bright future as a united nation. We should rather concentrate on ensuring that a highly detribalised person takes over from Buhari come 2023,” he said.