The Guardian (Nigeria)

At June 12, Yoruba group seeks self- govt for race

- By Gbenga Akinfenwa ( Lagos), Oluwaseun Akingboye ( Akure) and Rotimi Agboluaje ( Ibadan)

• Nothing to celebrate 27 years after, says Onitiri

• Falana urges patriots to intensify struggle for genuine democracy

AYORUBA group, the Oodua Action Movement ( OAM), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give the Yoruba people self- government by reverting to regional government.

The group, which is an associatio­n of Yoruba indigenes in Diaspora, also asked all Yoruba people to use the June 12 occasion for sober reflection and unity among themselves.

The Co- ordinator, Demola Edward, in a statement in Akure yesterday, clamoured for autonomous nation to bring back progress and developmen­t.

According to him, it is imperative that all Yoruba people globally should come together to actualise an autonomous nation so as not to remain perpetual slaves in their fatherland.

In a related vein, a political activist/ social critic, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, has called for sober reflection and rebirth by political players, leaders and appointees across the country.

Onitiri, who spoke yesterday in Lagos, expressed sadness that the politician­s had forgotten so soon the sacrifice and message of June 12, which the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale ( MKO) Abiola struggled and died for, adding that currently, there is no democratic government in Nigeria.

Also, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, said immortalis­ing Abiola was not enough, saying that the last 21 years in the nation’s return to democratic rule have been full of sorrow and tears.

Falana, who spoke during a live radio programme in Ibadan, urged true patriots in the country to intensify the struggle for genuine democracy.

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