By Kayode Emola
Let me begin this article by wishing all our Yoruba compatriots, both at home and abroad, a happy New Year 2025. Without an iota of doubt, we have come a long way in our struggle for the Yoruba nation so far, and this year, 2025, will be our turning point.
Many people who are fainthearted about our struggle are asking if there truly is a way out of Nigeria or if our struggle is merely an exercise in futility. I am certain that our struggle is an act of love for our nation; so, God willing, we will succeed in our quest for Yoruba sovereignty.
Some may ask how can we be truly fighting for the Yoruba nation when there are so many fifth columnists in our midst? Those called ‘odale’ by some of our people: are betrayers who are hellbent on preventing us from achieving the Yoruba nation of our dream.
While I cannot say there are no odales in our company, it would be unfair and untrue to label as odale every person who started the journey but has withdrawn from the struggle. Those who have joined the crusade for the sole purpose of derailing it are the true odales dragging us back.
However, the others – those who joined the struggle but have pulled back because they cannot see a way forwards – are the ones I am more interested in speaking to. My clear message to them is to keep heart: there is hope for the Yoruba nation and our struggle is nearing the concluding phase.
We have previously been in an unfortunate situation where those who are leading us do not themselves actually know the way out. Added to this, their leadership has been coloured by the belief that only those within their own circles are the true fighters championing the Yoruba nation’s struggles. This has caused us numerous setbacks from one corner to the other, affecting our progress in no small way.
The time has come for us to focus on the task ahead: achieving Yoruba nation sovereignty. The only way we can be effective in doing this is to come together in unity, fighting this struggle as a family rather than as competitors.
Having identified the task, the next phase must be to identify the men and materials needed to achieve it. Once done, we need to put these men and materials in place and execute our plans. Then, God willing, we will be able to secure victory for the Yoruba people, meaning ultimately that we will all be winners.
I plead therefore with all our comrades: this is not the time to begin buying enemies for ourselves. Rather, this is the time for us to come together, combining whatever skills or talents we possess that may be useful for this journey ahead. An enormous amount of resources will be required to execute this project, so we must not hold back whatever we have, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
There is a British poem that reads: “For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; for want of a horse the rider was lost; for want of a rider the message was lost; for want of a message the battle was lost; for want of a battle the kingdom was lost; and all for the want of a horseshoe nail.” Your small contribution may be the horseshoe nail on which hangs the whole success of the birth of our nation.
I believe that if we all unite, putting our resources and skills together, then there is nothing that we cannot achieve. Let us therefore not look back to the failures or setbacks of the past few years; but let us focus on the journey ahead and the goal: which is the victory of an independent Yoruba nation.
