A group under the aegis of the Committee for the Actualisation of Yoruba Self Determination (CAYSD) has faulted Nigeria’s working political organization, saying it has failed to consider issues of equity, autonomy and development.
The category furthermore expressed dissatisfaction alongside the 1999 Constitution and called on the Statewide Assembly to urgently convene talks within Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities on the country’s political prospective.
CAYSD said it was beginning an “organised, legal, peaceful and democratic examination” of self-determination and the possibility of establishing a Yoruba nation, popularly familiar as Oduduwa Nation.
The opinion was contained in a declaration as Nigeria celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.
The line was signed by well-established Yoruba figures, including Professors Ademola Araoye and Banji Akintoye, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Leader John Oni, Director Imam Aduanigba, Director Tola Adeniyi and Dr Akin Fapohunda.
The category said the travel followed years of unsuccessful efforts to restructure Nigeria into what it described as a legitimate federation alongside significant autonomy for its constituent regions and peoples.
“For the helpful of all, it is time for the management of the Nigerian Condition, as represented by the Countrywide Assembly and led by Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, to, as a subject of urgency, facilitate talks by the Yorubas alongside all other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
“It is time to consider how we have been and how we intend to be in Nigeria,” the assert said.
The group said its proposed initiative would put peaceful self-determination, including the possibility of an Oduduwa Nation, on the table for society discussion and constitutional concern.
It, yet, stressed that the campaign would not include violence or coercion.
“The initiative will be explicitly peaceful. It rejects violence, ethnic intimidation, armed mobilisation, attacks upon people institutions, coercion of communities and hostility towards other Nigerians,” it said.
CAYSD said its strategy would address civic consultations, people enlightenment, scholarship, constitutional advocacy, lawful assemblies and engagement together with elected institutions.
It furthermore said Nigerians who favour the continuation of the country as a federation, confederation or another constitutional organization should be free to display their views.
“The problem should be addressed by route of argument, constitutional negotiation and democratic consent rather than suppression or denunciation,” the fixed said.
It linked its position to concerns over insecurity, economic decline, unemployment and the migration of experienced Nigerians.
The fixed said bigger autonomy could facilitate regions to develop policies and institutions based on their nearby needs.
It too cited the survive of nearby self-government in advance of the 1966 military intervention, which it said increased centralisation.
CAYSD said discussions on self-determination should not be regarded automatically as hostility towards Nigeria, arguing that constitutional questions around autonomy and self-government had been debated peacefully in other countries.
It said the forthcoming federal elections should not prevent Nigerians from discussing the country’s constitutional upcoming.
Source: Group faults 1999 Constitution, demands sovereignty talks
