The Oodua Peoples Congress (New Era) has rebuked the Arewa Youth Assembly for issuing an evacuation notice to Yorubas in the North.
WuzupNigeria reported that the AYA, three days ago, gave a 72-hour ultimatum to Yorubas in the region, in retaliation to a similar notice issued to Fulani herdsmen by a popular Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho.
Recall that the Fulani herdsmen have been accused of causing menace, including the killing of farmers, in the SouthWest.
“The constitution of the country has made it crystal clear that any Nigerian can live in any part of the country irrespective of his or her religious and tribal placements.”
But “since it is Igboho who wants his people out of the North to form a Yoruba nation, we will make it easy for him by asking Igboho to provide a means of transportation to convey his people to the southwest,” AYA said through its speaker.
However in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan, Oyo State on Sunday, the OPC stated that the statement by AYA “is uncalled for.”
The OPC, through its National Public Relations Officer, Adesina Akinpelu, refered AYA to history books, noting that the Hausa were never known to be enemies of the Yoruba people despite their differences.
The statement read in part, “The statement credited to one Mohammed Salihu Danlami, Speaker, Arewa Youth Assembly, is uncalled for. It is very unfortunate that some Hausa have refused to accept the reality that Fulani are the major problem bedeviling Nigeria as a nation.
“The Fulani have virtually hijacked everything from us; even Hausa always play the second fiddle. The Arewa youth group should go back to history and check how the two tribes have worked together.”
The statement added that the OPC had no grouse against the group but would not relent in its demand that criminal elements should exit Yoruba land.
The OPC added, “In as much as we want independence, the Yoruba are not against other tribes, who are law-abiding or those doing legitimate businesses in Yoruba land. We will not support anybody or group that tries to instigate Yoruba people against the law-abiding people of other tribes. No people or nation exists in isolation.
“The Fulani had tormented and seen to the collapse of Yoruba empires until the united Yoruba forces sent them back. We must come together to speak against our oppressors, who are operating as if they are above the law of the land.”
