Apex Yoruba Diaspora organisation, Yoruba One Voice(YOV) has called on the United Nation Secretary General, Mr Antonio Guterres, to save Yorubaland from imminent collapse.
The organisation made the appeal in a letter titled:”To Avert Human Tragedy, Yoruba People Seek the Conscience of World Leaders” and signed by the group’s secretary general, Prince Adedokun Ademiluyi, restated its belief in the ability of the United Nation’s scribe to avoid possible danger that is possible of hitting the very foundation and existence of Nigeria.
The letter reads: “Since 1914, the Yoruba have been subjected to the worst kind of material and spiritual afflictions by a system that stifles the voices of Yoruba people, trample on their heritage and dwarf the echoes of their hues and cries from the valley of social and cultural repression.
“Nigeria’s independence from Britain in 1960 did not offer the kind of freedom our people sought. The Yoruba people were not fully engaged on the type of Government the people wanted.
“Since 1914, the forceful merger of the various ethnic groups and the garrison structure of the Nigerian state continues to drag backwards the choice and liberty of Yoruba people who bore the agony of a harrowing 30-month civil war (1967-1970), violent military putsches, political and economic schisms and complete annihilation of the Yoruba civilization.
“This has been at a great, colossal cost to the Yoruba people whose collective aspiration is to determine their own political, cultural, social and economic destiny.”
YOV stated further that Yorubaland had in the past years remained the target of the Fulani terrorists, insisting that it will not fold its arms watching terrorists wreaking havoc on the south west.
“The wave of Terrorism on Our land: In the past 15 years, the Yoruba situation has gone from grace to grass. Our indigenous territories have become a theatre of blood-letting, terrorism and all vile associated with misery.
“In this past one and half decade, Yoruba territories have been ravaged by Fulani terrorists and Boko Haram, already categorized as some of the deadliest terror groups around the world.
“Fulani terrorism exists in West Africa, particularly Nigeria where they seek to violently impose a theocratic state.
“They have also carried out violent attacks and mass killings in Mali, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.
“In 2018 alone, approximately 1,930 died in attacks related to Fulani attacks. These actors are linked to Islamic State of West Africa Province, (ISWAP), The Macina Liberation Front (FLM) and the Protection of Fulani Identity and the Restoration of Justice, (ANSIPRJ).
“The Fulani terrorists were described by the Global Terrorism Index as the fourth deadliest terror group in the world. The havoc on Yoruba territories are compounded by Boko Haram and ISWAP. Efforts by local authorities to challenge them are frustrated by a Federal Government that is suspect.
“The Yoruba are some 60 million indigenous people living in the South West area of Nigeria of West Africa. The Yoruba have their history dating back to over 30,000 years with a recorded system of organised government that existed as far back as the 9th century.
“The Yoruba have survived wars, thick and thorn, passing through various phases of human development according to the dictates of events and their subjective material conditions.
“These past fifteen years, Yoruba farmlands, homes, sacred groves have been invaded and devastated by the terrorists. Kidnapping, rape of women and the child girl, invasion of worship homes are some of their trademarks.
“Recent Experiences in one of the most devastating attacks on Yoruba territory; Owo, an ancient community in Ondo State, was attacked by Fulani terrorists leading to the death of at least 44 people, including women and children.
“Many were wounded as the aftermath of the reckless attack and the Nigerian authority blames ISWAP for the attacks.
“The indiscriminate attacks on Yoruba territories do not spare Yoruba traditional rulers, some of who have been killed, kidnapped or wounded. In November 2020, the Olufon of Ifon, a first class traditional ruler in Ondo State, Oba Israel Adeusi was shot dead by Fulani terrorists.
“The traditional ruler of Ewu-Ekiti, Oba Adetutu Ajayi was shot by the same terrorists in April 2021. In February 2022, the Attah of Ayede-Ekiti, in Oye Local Government, Oba Abdul-Mumuni Adebayo Orisagbemi was also shot.
The Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Benjamin Osho in June 2021 was kidnapped by Fulani terrorists.”
Ademiluyi urged the UN scribe to use his office to address the situation in the country, adding that the reason for the formation of YOV as a diaspora organization about two years ago is to raise its voices against the injustices in Nigeria.
“Since its inception in 2020, YOV has enjoyed global appeal spreading across 174 countries across the six continents of the world.Our demand for good government is based on the call for regionalism”,
“There is a whirlwind that may shake the world. We do not know the form it will take. We do not know the time. We are uncertain of how, but our suspicion is very strong that it might bring human misery and agony. We are certain that if you treat this letter with dispatch, with your usual passionate feeling and appreciation, the world might prevent another catastrophe, to God’s witness and glory and to your own credit.”
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