The Yoruba Summit Group, which is a platform for the Yoruba self-determination groups, has said the Yoruba nation needs restructuring desperately in order to develop at its own pace.
The coordinator of the group, Prof. Banji Akintoye, said this at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday.
Apart from Akintoye, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, who was represented at the briefing by Chief Yinka Oguntimehin; a former Ambassador to Philippines, Yemi Farounbi; Deji Osibogun ; Dr Amos Akingba and Chief Tola Adeniyi, also agreed that Nigeria should be restructured.
They said restructuring would provide solutions to some of the problems confronting the nation.
Akintoye, who was a senator during the Second Republic, said just three states in the North were holding the country down and preventing the nation from restructuring.
He said, “We, the Yoruba people, want restructuring and that is why we are supporting those who want to restructure Nigeria. We cannot continue with this lopsidedness. Nigeria is holding us back and holding us down. We need restructuring very desperately.”
Akintoye , who said Yoruba people must not allow the coming elections to cause violence in any part of the South-West, urged them to vote and remain peaceful.
The senator, however, noted that he was aware that there might be an increased aggression against Yoruba people after the elections.
But he said Yoruba people would not allow anybody to drive them away from their land, adding that they would meet any aggression against the South-West with equal force.
Akintoye said, “Though we hope and pray for peace, we must be aware that the aggression against our homeland and people can increase suddenly and very sharply after the elections.
“Therefore, we need to be prepared to protect and defend our families, homes, farms, villages, churches, mosques and every neighbourhood in our towns and cities. Our obvious preparedness and readiness for the protection and defence of every area of our homeland can discourage attackers and ward off attacks.
“But if they still come attacking, we must meet them with manly bravery and throw them back. On no condition must we flee before them. On no condition must we abandon our farms or surrender any part of our land to them.”
Copyright PUNCH.