By Olufemi Olaniyi The President of Yoruba World Congress, Prof Banji Akintoye, has said restructuring is no longer capable of sol...
By Olufemi Olaniyi
The President of Yoruba World Congress, Prof Banji Akintoye,
has said restructuring is no longer capable of solving the problem facing the
Yoruba race in Nigeria as well as other oppressed ethnic nationalities.
The professor of History said rather than agitating for
restructuring, what Nigeria leaders needed to do now was a negotiation of how
they wanted the country to be.
He said this in an interview with our correspondent on
Saturday.
According to him, various ethnic groups need to come
together and agree on their relationship with Nigeria.
Akintoye said restructuring would not stop the invasion of
various ethnic groups and massive destruction of lives and properties that had
been going on for some years.
He said, “I respect people who are asking for restructuring
but I belong to the large number of Yoruba people who have come to the
conclusion that restructuring is no longer capable of solving the problems of
Nigerian people.
“I was one of the people fighting for restructuring before
now and I have written more than 50 articles on restructuring but in the light
of what has been happening in Nigeria, especially since 2015, it is obvious to
me that restructuring is no longer capable of solving the problems.
“For instance, I ask people, “Are you saying mere
restructuring will stop the invasion of our land by the Fulani? Are you saying
the people who are threatening to conquer our land, exterminate us and bring
their tribal men from countries in West Africa will stop by just restructuring?
“Are you saying restructuring will be the solution to the
people who are bringing foreign terrorist organisations to conquer every tribe
in Nigeria? Those who are asking for restructuring are free to go on.
“But restructuring is no longer the appropriate thing to be
fighting for now if a particular ethnic group is bringing foreign terrorist
organisations to kill you and take over your land. Why don’t you demand a
negotiation – a thorough renegotiation of our relationship rather than talking
of restructuring?”
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