By Emmanuel kehinde,Ilorin
Ilorin – Yoruba speaking people in Kwara State, under the aegis of Apapo Yoruba Kwara, have asked the Federal Government to return Nigeria to true federalism as negotiated and agreed to by participants at the 2014 National Conference.
The Coordinator of the socio-cultural organization, Chief Samuel Adewoye said immediate implementation of recommendations of the 2014 National Conference is sacrosanct, “as the 1999 Constitution (as amended) does not adequately guarantee and take care of the interest of all the ethnic nationalities.
Adewoye who spoke through Chief Jayeola Omotoso, told journalists in Ilorin that the implementation of resolutions at the conference is the only way to restore peace and tranquility to the country.
According to him, returning Nigeria to true federalism will give all ethnic nationalities a sense of belonging and make them critical stakeholders in the Nigeria project.
The group, Apapo Yoruba Kwara is made up of 16 Yoruba socio-cultural groups, spread across 12 out of the 16 local governments in the state.
“There is no doubt that Nigeria is on the brink; in order to save it from total collapse, it is hereby strongly recommended that the Federal Government should urgently implement the Recommendations of the 2014 National Conference by returning Nigeria to true federalism as negotiated and agreed to by our founding fathers,” he said.
In his speech titled “Kwara Yoruba And The Ussues Of Security, Restructuring And Self Determination For Yoruba Nation” , Adewoye also asked the Federal Government to also return to 1963 Constitution as may be modified.
The group’s demands also include a boundary adjustment which will return Kwara State to the South-West geo-political zone, establishment of state police to enhance security, and fiscal federalism or resource control etc.
“In respect of Kwara State Government, we emphasize the imperative of restoring the dignity, honour and paraphernalia of Yoruba traditional institutions in the so-called Ilorin Emirate i.e. Asa, Moro, Ilorin West, Ilorin East and Ilorin South by grading and upgrading them like their counterparts in the other Local Governments of the State.
“Implementing without further delay the two subsisting Court judgements already won by the good people of Moro which exclude them from Ilorin Emirate.
“Putting machinery in motion for the immediate creation of Local Council Development Areas with
particular reference to Ifelodun, Asa and Moro Local Government Areas which constitute some of the largest local councils in the federation etc,” he said.
The socio-cultural organisation also lamented plethora of challenges of insecurity in the country via the activities of Boko Haram, bandits, terrorists, and herdsmen, saying that the situation had all combined to threaten the Federal Government out of its wits.
“The rapidity and frequency of these odious crimes have turned the country into an unsafe haven.
“The high sense of insecurity across the federation combined with the unwillingness of the power-that-be to restructure the country provide a fertile ground for the agitation for self-determination in the form of Yoruba Nation, Biafra Republic, Middle Belt Republic, South-South Republic etc,” it stated. ( vitalnewsngr.com )
