A self-proclaimed President of Yoruba Nation, Ms. Modupe Onitiri Abiola has declared Yoruba Independence and secession from Nigeria.
DAILY GIST reports that Modupe is one of the wives of the Late MKO Abiola.
She announced the establishment of the Yoruba Nation during a fervent and heavily attended rally in Lagos on Friday.
Onitiri-Abiola, who has self-proclaimed herself as the President of the new Yoruba nation, stated that she has effectively reclaimed Yorubaland from the Nigerian state. During her impassioned speech, she announced that the territories comprising South West Nigeria are no longer under Nigerian jurisdiction.
In furtherance of her declaration, Ms. Onitiri-Abiola revealed the formation of what she termed the “Yoruba Army,” a group comprised of Yoruba nation agitators, which she claims is tasked with defending the newly declared sovereignty. Details about the size, structure, or capability of this “army” remain unclear, and there has been no independent verification of its existence or operational readiness.
The announcement has sparked a mixture of support and heavy criticism, with many dismissing it as a delusional act by an isolated group without any real political power or legitimacy. Critics argue that such declarations could lead to significant unrest and violence in what is already a volatile political climate in Nigeria.
It could be recalled that members of the “OminiraYoruba” group led by Ms Modupe Onitiri Abiola had allegedly invaded the Oyo State Government House on Saturday.
The agitators had invaded the Secretariat and taken over some parts of the area.
At least, three of the agitators were reportedly killed by the security operatives during the incident.
Oyo State police spokesman SP Adewale Osifeso also confirmed the arrest of 20 suspects in a statement issued in Ibadan.
Osifeso stated that the 20 suspects arrested had in their possession three pump action guns, 29 life cartridges, two expended cartridges, 67 cutlasses, five bulletproof vests and six pairs of boots.
He added that they also had 10 Public Address Systems, three berets with Oodua insignia crafted on them, seven belts, 11 Oodua Nation camouflage uniforms, one unregistered bus and three motorcycles.
Osifeso stressed that the police, in collaboration with sister security agencies, successfully thwarted the agitators’ attempt to forcefully take over the secretariat.
Prof. Banji Akintoye stated that neither he nor the Yoruba Nation agitators were responsible for the invasion of the Oyo State Government House on Saturday in Ibadan, the state capital.
Also, the Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, more commonly called Sunday Igboho, had disowned the group which invaded the government house.
Meanwhile, the release by the Yoruba Nation youth leader said, “We condemn and do not associate with individual group which called themselves ominirayoruba22 because their agenda is totally different from we, the real Yoruba nation campaigner under the leadership of Prof Banji Akintoye
“We recall that 1 October 2020, we started organizing a peaceful Yoruba Nation rally which was led by Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho Osha till 3rd July 2021 after the incident of the invasion by DSS.
“Ms Modupe Onitiri Abiola was nowhere to be found and suddenly she came out of nowhere claiming she’s Yoruba Nation leader and doesn’t want to listen to any instruction from anybody other than only the people she can manipulate.
“By December 2022 Ms Modupe Onitiri Abiola started to talk on different YouTube channels without coming out physically to lead any rally in Yoruba land but to our surprise, she started using defamation of characters without any evidence so Yoruba people can turn their backs against Prof Banji Akintoye and Chief Dr Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho Osha.
“So in 2022, she claimed that Yoruba Nation has been approved by the United Nations which was false information because till today, we have not had any information from any news media, CNN, BBC and Arise Channel or the publication of such information anywhere else. She continued disturbing the peace of the country by lying to them that Yoruba Nation has been approved by the United Nations while she has failed to bring out any legitimate documents that she claimed to have received from the United Nations.
“We the real legitimate Yoruba Nation campaigner under the leadership of Prof Banji Akintoye and Chief Dr Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho Osha are using this medium to tell the law enforcement agencies that if found anybody claiming to be ominirayoruba22 get arrest, and please don’t tag them as Yoruba Nation campaigner.
“We are also fully aware that the same miscreant group which called themselves ominirayoruba22 under the leadership of Modupeola Onitiri Abiola, wife of late MKO Abiola are planning to come out for (Adele governments in Yoruba land).
“We signed a petition with over 5 million signatures of which Ms Modupe Onitiri Abiola hid under her carpet and till today she has not told us where she kept our personal data that she collected from us in 2022.
“Ms Modupe Onitiri Abiola’s group which called themselves ominirayoruba22 also which at the back of their vest the wrote, Yoruba nation air force are the ones who hijacked Amuludun radio station in Oyo State.
“Also all the people who were arrested in the case of hijacking Amuludun radio station FM have not been released till date because they charged them for treasonable felony under the Nigeria constitution.
“We the real Yoruba Nation campaigner under the leadership of Prof Banji Akintoye and Chief Dr Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo Igboho are not for violence but for diplomatic means are also using this medium to tell the world and law enforcement agencies that they are not with Yoruba Nation Movement. We disassociate and distance ourselves from them so when they come out, do not tag or drag Yoruba Nation Movement into it.”
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