By Kayode Emola
As we enter the final quarter of the year and draw our series on Transformation through Yoruba nation to its conclusion, our journey towards attaining our sovereign Yoruba nation edges closer and closer by the day. Many people have prophesied that we will realise Yoruba nation before the end of the year. Whilst I am not a prophet, I want to believe them wholeheartedly, in order to not be the doubter that drags the prophesy down.
I have received several calls and messages on the topic, asking if Yoruba independence is achievable this year. Some people have even mentioned my recent silence on the matter. I understand the anxiety our people are facing, and I want you all to know that we are in the same boat, all on this journey together.
I am not going to give a running commentary of everything that has been occurring behind the scenes, however, I will offer my thoughts and insights on these background happenings. I have a strong conviction that Yoruba nationhood will be actualised sometime this year, in 2022. I have a leading in my spirit that the time for preparation has finished and, just like the commandment given to Israel in the Bible, it is now time to take action and claim our country, the land from River Koura to the edges of River Benue down to the Delta and into the Atlantic Ocean.
The greatest obstacle that may hinder us is fear; not fear of the unknown but fear that if we don’t win, we may have to start all over again. However, I believe that if we don’t take that risk now to reclaim our country from Nigeria, then everything we have laboured for will be jeopardised. I pray that our labours for freedom shall not have been in vain.
So to elaborate on the journey that has been ongoing and what has been happening in the background. Toward the end of last year, we initiated a four-stage approach for progression. These four stages are:
i. Awareness,
ii. Coordination,
iii. Mobilisation, and
iv. Implementation.
I am pleased to announce to the Yoruba people that we are now at the Implementation phase.
For the last year, we have been intensifying the Coordination and Mobilisation phases, vital pre-requisites for implementation. Our efforts have been focused both internally and externally: reaching out to our own people as well as foreign governments and international organisations to increase awareness and support for Yoruba independence. I am pleased to report that the response has vastly surpassed our expectations, with several powerful nations and individuals voicing sympathy to our plight and offering guidance on our next steps.
As the implementation strategy reaches fine-tuning, a lot of our people are readying themselves for the actualisation of Yoruba nation. One thing to note, however, is that, despite the widespread belief that the Fulani are our greatest enemy, I can say categorically that our fight for independence is not with the Fulani.
The Fulani do not have the might to withstand the Yoruba, which is why they are hiding behind the uniform of the Nigerian army. International convention prohibits them from suppressing the will of the people who desire to enact their human right to self-determination. Rather, our major obstacle is, and will continue to be, the Yoruba elite who are intent on perpetuating the slave trade that ostensibly was abolished decades ago.
It is the Yoruba elite and so-called ‘well-to-do’ middle classes who have helped to destroy Nigeria, and who continue to benefit from its ruination. They are the ones holding us back, and so they are the obstacle that we must overcome. We must make them understand that no election in Nigeria will result in a favourable outcome for the Yoruba nation; Buhari’s eight-year rule has clearly demonstrated this. In fact, Buhari’s misrule has given some people cause to praise his predecessor – even though the failings of his predecessor were the reason Buhari was elected instead of him in the first place.
In order to avoid conflict amongst our own countrymen, we have been cautious in how we’ve manoeuvred the self-determination ship, so as to avoid colliding with the vested interests of our greedy elite. However, as the Implementation phase is imminently dawning, we must stand firm in our insistence for Yoruba sovereignty; there can be no room for compromise, this is a battle that we must win. We must remove the fear domiciled in our hearts, press forward and take our country.
Without wishing to totally reveal our hand, I would urge every Yoruba person who is genuinely fighting for self-determination to be ready to answer the call of duty. As we approach the Yoruba International Mega Rally, scheduled this year to take place both at home and amongst the diaspora, we must prepare fervently to attend en-masse. Many of the diaspora are already planning their travel to Nigeria; so must we in Yorubaland also rise up and seize this great opportunity.
There is no excuse for not coming out this time: our esteemed leaders of the self-determination struggle will be there at the centre of it all, leading from the front. The least we can do in response is to give our total support and make an unignorable statement, not just to Nigeria, but to the entire international community, that Yoruba nation is ready to stand independently among the comity of nations.
One may ask, are we truly ready? From the awareness campaign travelling from village to village, across towns and cities, the answer is a resounding Yes! We must, however, be conscious of choppy waters, navigating carefully to avoid any conflict either with our own people or with law enforcement agencies. We must continue to show respect for constituted authorities but at the same time hold firm with our demand.
This is the time for action, we are nearing, on our journey, the point of no return. Inasmuch as we are enthused by the prospect of a better future, we must also understand that this will be a highly emotional event for a lot of people. Leaving a nation of over 200 million people, people that we’ve called brothers, sisters and friends, is not an easy thing. Many are married to people from other tribes, some have children who have genuine questions about their place within the new structure, and they must all be treated with respect and dignity, supported in whatever way possible.
This is the final goodbye to the country called Nigeria. It is a country we once loved, however, I can assure you that after some time, we will not miss Nigeria at all. It was never intended to be a functional country. It was designed to mess with our brains and it did just that for over 100 years. Now it is time to break those mental shackles binding our minds, to free ourselves from the mental enslavement that continues to hold us down. I beseech you all now: rise up, speak out and together we *will* make the world hear us. When Fatherland Yoruba calls us, let us not hesitate to show our support in whatever way we can. It is the least we can do.
