The leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Banji Akintoye, on Friday advised the federal government to call for dialogue to “peacefully dissolve the amalgamation of 1914 of Southern and Northern Nigeria.”
Akintoye, who gave the advice in a statement issued to journalists in Ibadan by his communications manager, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, said “this has become necessary to enable both regions to continue to collaborate peacefully as sovereign countries.”
He noted that there was no basis for the planned use of force to suppress the agitation for self-determination, adding that “any Nigerian leader who dares to order the shooting of Yoruba Self-Determination Activists will have a date with the International Criminal Court.”
“Our ultimate advice to Nigeria is that negotiations be embarked upon now to enable the departures from Nigeria to be negotiated in peace and in the spirit of brotherliness, so that as different countries, our nations may live as friendly neighbours in all our future.
“The federal government has a duty to humanity to lead us to such negotiation. We need to warn the Nigerian authorities who say they are determined to thwart our quest.
“You cannot stop us or any of the other nationalities seeking self-determination. When you say you have ordered the Nigerian police and military to be ruthless against us, we advise you to be aware that you might be breaking laws that could lead you into serious criminal prosecutions in international criminal courts,” the statement read in part.
