By Dayo Johnson

THE Yoruba Self Determination Movement, YSDM, and the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, disagreed over the agitation for Yoruba Nation.

While, the YSDM insisted that a sovereign Yoruba Nation is the only solution to build a prosperous nation of their dream, Afenifere, on its part, said it is not relenting on its push for restructuring.

The YSDM, in a statement by its General Secretary, Mr Moses Ojo, entitled ‘The Deadly Distraction of Regionalism’, reassured the Yoruba people that the self-determination struggle is on course and moving surely towards its victorious goal.

The statement reads: “Let me say here that the leadership of the YSDM is actively engaged in some diplomatic moves with some well-meaning stakeholders of our struggle.

“The reasonable suggestion for each ethnic nationality to retain their rights to self-determination as discussed by the apostles of regionalism may be an interesting idea.

“Let us be wise and be unified against the enemies within. Let us be wise and unified in the quest for the ultimate good, success and prosperity of our Yoruba nation.

“The Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria must understand that it is suicidal to toy with a heavily funded, intensively armed, and fiercely terroristic people like the Fulani who are resolved to use violence to seize our ancestral homeland from us and turn it into theirs.

“The Yoruba Self Determination Movement, YSDM, under the leadership of Emeritus Professor, Banji Akintoye, is issuing a public statement on the deadly distraction that the new campaign of regionalism poses to the continued existence of the Yoruba race.”

We prefer restructuring —Afenifere

Reacting to the agitation for autonomy, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Jare Ajayi, said: “The calls for nations to be carved out of the present Nigeria is understandable.

“Afenifere is however not relenting on its push for restructuring because if it is properly done, the Yoruba region, perhaps like some other regions, will be in a very good position to secure its territory and develop at its pace.”

“Afenifere strongly believes that if restructuring is sincerely done and right people mount the mantle of leadership, most of those things that are fueling agitations for separate nations from Nigeria will reduce to the barest minimum and ultimately fizzle out.”