The leader of the Oduduwa (Yoruba) self-determination movement, Prof. Banji Akintoye, yesterday called for an unprecedented peaceful separation of the Yoruba and Igbo regions from Nigeria, describing the country as a humanitarian catastrophe in the making.

“Why do we want self-determination? Because our people have not known peace since the 1914 amalgamation. The Nigerian imbroglio has gone beyond genocide. It is now a global humanitarian crisis,” he said.

Akintoye stated these during a virtual meeting in Atlanta, USA, where the Washington D.C. Resolution was adopted under the Coalition for De‑Amalgamation and Security (CODES).

The resolution laid out a detailed roadmap for self-determination, including the production of draft constitutions for the Yoruba (Oduduwa) and Igbo (Biafra) nations within 90 days.

Akintoye emphasised that the constitutions would be formally submitted to responsible governments and international organisations, including the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and parliaments worldwide.

According to him, “We affirm our resolve to give our people prosperity and happiness in their God-given ancestral homelands, where they can pursue the good life and secure a future for their children.

“We urge all nations and global institutions to back a fair and peaceful path for the de-amalgamation of Nigeria. This is about justice, security, and the future of millions of indigenous people entrapped in decades of neglect, corruption, and intolerance.”

Other leaders, while speaking in the same vein, voiced their support and highlighted their reasons for pursuing self-determination.

Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, said: “We have suffered decades of marginalisation and insecurity. Our people deserve a homeland where safety is guaranteed, and where our children can grow without fear of violence and deprivation.”

The Deputy Leader of the Yoruba self-determination movement, George Akinnola, on his part, emphasised economic empowerment, saying: “The Nigerian state has continuously failed to provide development. De-amalgamation is the only path to secure resources, governance, and prosperity for our people.”

On his own, Dr. Kayode Emiola added: “Peaceful separation is not a desire for conflict but a strategic necessity. History shows that multi-ethnic states with unresolved tensions, like the former Yugoslavia, can only achieve long-term stability through equitable dissolution.”

Representing Igbo interests, Mazi Tony Nwisi, the chairman of the Igbo Global Network–IPOB, noted that: “The world must recognise the plight of our people. For decades, we have endured discrimination and attacks. Separation is a chance to reclaim dignity, culture, and security.”

Also, Mazi Emmanuel Kanu and Mazi Ositadimma Igenu, who maintained that the process would be fully peaceful, said: “Our goal is a lawful and internationally recognised path to self-determination. We are calling on the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and other global institutions to support this historic and non-violent initiative.”

Another Igbo leader, Prof. Chinedu Agbodike, warned that continued neglect and insecurity would only deepen national crises, saying: “Without clearly defined borders and governance, Nigeria will remain a haven for extremists. Peaceful de-amalgamation is the only solution to sustainable security.” (This Day)

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