One of the foremost leaders of the Yoruba Nation, Professor Adebanji Akintoye (Banji Akintoye) has warned Yorubas to stop nursing hope in the Nigerian project because the 1999 constitution upon which Nigeria is currently run is a fraud and unfavourable to the Yorubas. He argued that the 1999 constitution was a fraud because whereas the document called the 1999 constitution had the statement that it was written by Nigerians, it was actually written by 5 persons under a military dictatorship without involving the regions and people that make up the Nigerian federation.
Professor Banji Akintoye currently seen as the foremost Yoruba Leader said that being one of the disciples of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he had in 1983 while Baba Awo was still alive learnt that Nigeria will never work due to some inconsistencies in the formation of the country.
He also said that if Awo was still alive, he would never follow the politics of the country the way Yoruba politicians are following it nowadays. He opined that Yoruba politicians should pause and reason before following the trend of politics that is going on nowadays in Nigeria which is not taking the people in the direction of their dream and expectations. “The first thing to do is to sit down and study the situation properly and understand what is needed before you begin to do anything,” he said.
The historian and academician urged Yorubas to pause and have a rethink and retrace their steps in order to follow the right path that will make the Yorubas to own their own nation and live in prosperity as they deserved.
He recalled that being one of the founders of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, they had a wonderful party manifesto and agenda to make Nigeria a great country. They were committed to making Nigeria the black man’s world power of modern time. He said then that he and the party leadership were committed to making necessary sacrifices in order to actualize that vision.
He regretted that all those high expectations for the country were thwarted and he ended up in prison for 5 months following the 1983 coup de’ tat carried out by General Buhari.
The Nigerian military coup of 1983 took place on December 31 of that year. It was coordinated by key officers of the Nigerian military and led to the ousting of the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari and the installation of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as head of state
Professor Banjo cautioned that Yorubas will be making further mistakes by continuing to hope that Nigeria will ever work. He said that the last reason for the Yorubas to even change their mind and give another chance would have been Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 presidential ambition. He said that as it is, Tinubu has been denied that opportunity because they have seen that Tinubu and his boys have been thrown out of the window and being turned up and down.
“Therefore, what Yoruba need to do is to get out of the mess that is called Nigeria.”
In another statement, Professor Banji Akintoye was quoted to say that “anyone who says Nigeria is better together wants the Yoruba people to perish.”
