Yoruba Nation Seeks Self-Determination, Not Restructuring, Prof. Akintoye Tells Afenifere

Professor Banji Akintoye, leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, has expressed disagreement with Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, emphasizing that the Yoruba Nation seeks self-determination rather than restructuring. Akintoye’s remarks were made during his appearance on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’.

Akintoye, a renowned historian, reiterated that the ultimate goal for the Yoruba Nation is self-determination, not restructuring, pointing out that if restructuring were implemented, the same Fulani herders responsible for the deaths of over 29,000 Yoruba people would remain in Nigeria, allowing them to continue their violent activities.

In his interview, Akintoye questioned why there was significant focus on the agitation for Yoruba Nation, while the alleged violent acts and threats from Fulani herders remained largely overlooked. He suggested that self-determination is the only solution to the ongoing violence, arguing that separating from Nigeria would allow the Yoruba people to create their own laws and ensure safety for their communities.

“Our fathers in Afenifere are doing the right thing by talking about restructuring, hoping that we can return to a life of prosperity as we once knew it. However, our group, which is larger, insists that self-determination is the answer. Restructuring still leaves us within Nigeria, where the same people committing violent crimes would still have access to our communities,” Akintoye said.

He distanced his group from violent actions associated with Modupe Onitiri-Abiola’s group, which recently stormed the Oyo State Government House. Akintoye made it clear that the self-determination movement he leads is peaceful and intellectually driven, with a strict commitment to non-violence.

“The ideas of the self-determination movement and Yoruba Agitation led by Modupe Onitiri-Abiola are not the same. We began our movement for the liberation of the Yoruba Nation under international law, which recognizes the rights of indigenous people to seek self-determination. Our struggle has been peaceful since 2019, with no record of violence in our five-year history,” Akintoye added.

His comments underscore the growing division among Yoruba leaders over the path toward achieving autonomy and safety for their people, as differing approaches to the movement’s goals continue to emerge.