By Christie Doyin
When I started reading articles and messages about the Yoruba matters, I felt I should not read or react to anything until I am in a good frame of mind, albeit, it is such a sensitive but a matter to be passionate about by not just the Yoruba people but every Nigerian that has the love of this country at heart and thinks ‘In brotherhood we stand’.
One of my brothers wrote, “The force that bound this country together is very strong. No section can unilaterally leave d federation except there is a major split where the federating geopolitical zones or at least two major zones are ready to leave. It is beyond Yoruba matter”.
With the way things are today, the force of unity has been dashed or trampled under the feet of those unleashing havoc on the nation and those tacitly urging them on.
My take here therefore is whichever of the geopolitical groups or zones that wants to leave should be at liberty to do so, after all there is freedom of association as provided by our constitution.
The fear I have is whether the Yoruba people of Nigeria are ready to speak, act and relate in one voice and same mindset. It is one thing to collectively agitate for one thing together, it is another to act it out and yet another to make it work. And that is why I wondered, ‘How far Nigeria?”
The situation in the country today has shown that if government of the day does not take a decisive and firm stand against the wanton killings and destructions going on across the nation, not only the Yoruba and Igbos would want to let out but also others who are not Fulani or of the Hausa-Fulani extraction.
The inaction and lopsided action of government has literally taken away the desire to be one and our right to peace, life and freedom. It is a fact that we obviously do not have any say concerning our freedom and security. This is so considering how some certain groups would infiltrate other communities and with impunity levelled them down. They razed properties, plunder farmlands and worst of it all, maim and killed many while those supposedly supposed to secure us will not and or could not do anything.
The people are more or less becoming prisoners and strangers in their own land. Their freedoms to live and of movement have been curtailed by the terrorists of all shades, kidnappers, armed robbers and rapists, unhindered.
The Yoruba agitators said, “Our request is simply to prevail on the Federal Government of Nigeria to call for Referendum in Yoruba land consisting of Ekiti, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Kogi and such places where there are Yoruba”. Uhmmmm, I feel seriously concerned really and wondered if this will really bring the desired solution and if it will, how then can it be realised with the fact that the Yoruba hardly speak with one voice. Don’t forget the inspirational and caution words in/late pa Hubert Ogunde’s ‘Yoruba Ronu’.
I came across a conversation between a group of people on the social media where someone wrote, “Yoruba lacks isokan (unity) as a major tribe in Nigeria. Why can’t we learn isokan from the Hausa/Fulani. Most of our (Yoruba) political leaders work against themselves, they place personal, sectional and parochial interest over and above pan Yoruba interest”.
“YORUBA RONU. CAN WE EVER HAVE A COMMON POLITICAL POSITION???”
The writer continued to ask questions on the viability of the secession or agitation, “Have we ever find out why we don’t have a unifying factor with all our accolades as the most educated, more exposed and urbane and most intelligent?
“This is a missing link that our leaders have to find if we must make the expected and desired progress we crave for. A Nation must have a unifying factor and a soul as entity.”
Another wrote, “You couldn’t have said it more. Indeed we’re craving for it but unfortunately we ain’t got the rightful ones to call leaders. Any right thinking human being will understand that to break the Amalgamation is a longer process, one that could take even up to a decade (if not more) but in our own case (with no meaningful leadership), of course it will take longer or might even be unrealistic”.
In response, one wrote in reply, “Unfortunately we don’t have any unifying factor apart from geographical location, just like Nigeria.
May be we’ve forgotten our history where the Ijebus were always fighting with Ibadan or Ijesha. Ilorin were fighting with offa; Oyo wants to have others as slaves.
Is that not what we learn from history?
“Until Nigeria was formed, Yoruba was never United.
What make us think we will be United with the Oduduwa nation? Will the Modakeke love the Ifes or the Offa and Erinle now be friends?
“There is no miracle in oduduwa state. Let’s just pray we have good leaders in Kwara state and make our state self sufficient”.
Suggesting way out one of the writers wrote, “I think what we can do is to make noise to renegotiate otherwise nobody is going nowhere!
“You can see that you can’t find any reasonable Yoruba that stays within the country agitating for the Oduduwa nation.
If there is going to be anything, it has to come from us, those of us living within”.
Reasonable you may say, but is this really the reality? For all I know, the writer could be right and making a strong point but then shall we continue with this penkele mes (peculiar mess) and fold our hands, I don’t know yet but I think the thought and desire to be independent as a group cannot be wished away, the snag is how soon can it be and how united is the front?
*To be continued
*Doyin writes from Ilorin via e-mail: cdoyin@yahoo.com
