Don cautions Yoruba on restructuring
An expert on African Languages at the University of Florida, Gainsville, USA, Professor Akintunde Akinyemi, has cautioned Yoruba leaders to be careful in their call for restructuring of Nigeria.
He said that instead of calling for restructuring in any form, the Yoruba should look for ways to better the lot of the country.
Akinyemi spoke at the opening of the 2017 Edition of the National Conference of Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria (YSAN), held at the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of Ibadan.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Warfare, Ethnicity and Polity in Yorubaland, Nigeria and Africa,’ Akinyemi said, “I am not saying we should not restructure Nigeria, we, the Yoruba need to think on how to progress. We, the people, have enormous power, if we give them tough time, they will run away.
“I am not against restructuring of this country, but we are not united. Yoruba are looking for Oodua Republic, if we get it, we cannot speak with one voice. Ibadan does not agree with Egba, Egba does not agree with Ijebu or are we going to fight ourselves?
“Anyone who witnessed civil war will know that war is not a joke. It is until we stop sharing money in Abuja that Nigeria will get it right. It is the lawmakers that can do it but they will not do it.
“This is why I say Yoruba should be careful in supporting any tribe in agitation, on restructuring. The lawmakers, our leaders are misusing the powers,” he also said.
The guest speaker, a lecturer at the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Olawale Albert, noted that revolution cannot benefit Nigeria because the country was created without ideology.
“All the political parties in Nigeria don’t have ideology that is why you see people moving from one party to another. Even if you ask the elders, they don’t have ideology; are you saying it is our younger ones that will have the ideology?” he asked.