The National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria ( MSSN) in Southen Nigeria have dissociated themselves from the agitation of secession and creation of Oduduwa Republic by some Yoruba ethnic groups.
The two bodies, which represent the entire Muslins Youths and Students in Oyo, Ogun, Ondo,Lagos, Ekiti, Osun and Yoruba parts of Edo and Delta States, stated this in a press conference held on Tuesday in Ibadan.
Speaking on behalf of the two bodies, the Amir of MSSN B Zone , Barrister Qoasim Odedeji, said the called by secession and creation of Yoruba Republic by Yoruba World Congress (YWC) ,led by Prof. Banji Akinloye, was ill-motivated and devilish.
Odedeji said that the agitation by the so called Yoruba group was a call for war and bloodshed and the Muslim organisations would not allow individuals or group of people acting in their own selfish and interest to drag the Muslims into war.
” It becomes worrisome and the need for our intervention when the secessionists in their cunning way of claiming support of Muslims suddenly gave birth to a ” Yoruba Jamatru Islam” a faceless group existing only in the imagination of their fake sponsors.
” We like many other Nigerians are worried and concerned that Nigeria as a nation despite its endowment with human and natural resources as become beset of poverty and insecurity but we do not belief that secession is the answer to our multi-facet problems.
“This agitation is capable of throwing the nation into another round of war and bloodshed as experience in agitation for sovereign state of Biafra , Soviet Union and recently Sudan experience among others,” Odedeji said.
The Muslim groups said it was wrong for the Yoruba World Congress to speak on behalf of the entire Yoruba people on such a serious issue like secession without the consent and approval of critical stakeholders the Muslim organisations represent.
“We on behalf of the entire Muslim Students and Youths of Yorubaland state that there is strength in togetherness, we believe in Nigeria and say no to secession, no to Yoruba Republic,” Odedeji said.
The Muslim groups appealed to Nigerians to work towards ensuring development of one Nigeria, adding that nations are built on visions, ideals and values.
They called on Nigerians especially the Yoruba brothers and sisters to shun the planned rally slated for October 1 by the Yoruba group in the name of Oduduwa Republic.
He said, “The secessionist groups have not only chosen a name for their proposed republic, they have also designed its currency which has been paraded on social media. In order to gain a global attention for their agitation, Yoruba World Congress has planned a rally to be held on the 1st day of October, the Nigeria Independence Day. It is a good development that many other Yoruba groups and some eminent personalities in Yorubaland have dissociated themselves from secessionists agenda and their planned October 1 rally.
“We however, to make our voice louder and speak in one voice, as the major Muslim Youths of Yoruba extraction, condemn in stronger term any agitation for secession or creation of Oduduwa Republic. It is our considered view that the agitation is not only unwarranted and uncalled for, it is also ill-motivated and devilish. It is a call for war and bloodshed and we, as critical stakeholders will not allow individuals or group of people acting in their own selfish and parochial interest, to drag us into unnecessary war.
“It becomes more worrisome and the need for our intervention when the secessionists, in their cunning way of claiming support of Muslims suddenly gave birth to a “Yoruba Jamatru Islam” a faceless group existing only in the imagination of their fake sponsors.
“In Oyo state, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti, are our leaders Hausa or Igbo. Is Oyo state better governed, is Osun, Ekiti and other states in the South West better governed? It is some people who are looking for money to eat they are calling for Oduduwa Republic. Are we the only group in Nigeria, is Nigeria for only three ethnic groups. If anyone is claiming to be marginalized, it should not be Yoruba.
“Gentlemen of the press, we, like many other Nigerians, are worried and concerned that Nigeria as a nation despite its endowment with human and natural resources, has become beset of poverty and insecurity as evidenced by acts of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, thuggery, cultism, ritual killing in all parts of the country, we however, do not believe that secession is the answer to our multi-facet problems. Rather, it is capable of throwing the nation into another round of war and bloodshed as the experience of such agitation as recorded in the agitation for sovereign state of Biafra, Soviet Union/Russia and recently the Sudan experience is nothing to write home about. It has always been a bad tale.
“Gentlemen of the press, when we are also not oblivious of the constitutional right to freedom of expression, we also believe it is clearly wrong to speak on behalf of the entire Yoruba people on such a serious issue like secession without the consent and approval of critical stakeholders that our organisations represent.
“We appeal to all Nigerians to put all hands on deck towards ensuring development of one Nigeria. Nations are built on visions, ideals and values while peace is the most desired by us all as violence is too expensive to pay its due. Finally, we call on all Nigerians especially our respected Yoruba brothers and sisters to shun any rally in the name of Oduduwa Republic”.
Also speaking, Legal Adviser, Politucal Awarness Group, PAG, Barrister Abdul Wabeed Awwal said the position of the Muslims in the South West was that they are not in support of the establishment of Oduduwa Republic.
Awwal said Islam forbids the Muslims to fight in the context of ethnicity or tribalism.
“The Prophet Muhammed says whoever fight and die on the basis of ethnicity or tribalism is not a Muslim, so we don’t want to lose our faith.
” We agree that there are challenges in Nigeria and this should not be resolved by war ,we have to sit down and resolve it,” Lawal said.
In a remark,
National Secretary- General of NACOMYO, Alhaji Masud Akintola decried the level of marginalisation of Muslims by governments in the Southwest in terms of appointments and other benefits.
