Akeredolu: A few people can’t wake up and say ‘Yoruba nation’ — they don’t speak for us

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, says a few people can’t declare the establishment of “Yoruba nation”, without considering the general interest of the south-west region.

Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, had declared Yoruba as a separate nation and demanded the secession of the south-west states from Nigeria.

Commenting on the declaration on Monday, Akeredolu had said Ondo people have chosen to stay in Nigeria, adding that advocates of Oduduwa Republic are politicians who lost out on power.

Speaking further on Tuesday when he featured on a programme on Channels Television, Akeredolu said the issue of secession must be a consensus and not the opinion of a group of individuals.

The Ondo governor maintained that those clamouring for secession do not speak for people of the state.

“It is a group of individuals who are raising this issue; they are entitled to it. Everybody is entitled to his own position, but when you come to the issue of nation or you want to leave a particular setup, there must be a consensus,” he said.

“Nobody can on his own wake up and say he is speaking on behalf of others. Who gave them such powers? We have never yielded power to people to speak on our behalf on matter of this importance. That is what we are saying.

“A few people cannot just stand up one day and say to us, ‘yes, we want Yoruba nation.’ How? Where did we sit down to discuss this? With who and who? At what point in time? So, if you do not carry everybody along, you cannot be representing us.”

‘APC IS READY TO RESTRUCTURE NIGERIA’

When asked if the ruling party has plans to consider restructuring the country or to make it a national discourse, the governor said a number of APC members believe that the country must be restructured.

“A number of us, no doubt, believe that the issue of restructure of this country must be addressed,” he said.

“We are not running away from that fact as you know even our constitution (referring to the 1999 constitution), restructuring is fundamental there.

“I think it one of those issues that is being taken at the national assembly, but I’m not too sure our people are ready to wait for national assembly to conclude their own process.

“I believe if it is in our constitution or part of our manifesto, we will push it through.”