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Secession Not Final Solution, Akinyemi Tells Yorubas

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
September 25, 2004
Posted to the web September 27, 2004

By Percy Owaiye And Adedapo Akinrefon

Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Foreign Affairs Minister has said Thursday
that secession should not be the definition of self-determination amongst
Yorubas. He said this during the proclamation of the 118th Kiriji Memorial and
Yoruba National Day.
The former Foreign Affairs Minister said that "the belief of the Yoruba has
always been that we can hold our own virtue and our values can be exercised
through a level playing ground; that is what we should hold on to and not
secession."
He, however, argued that "any group that wants to influence events in its
environment must be interested in the power-play in that environment and must
seek political power as a means to propagating its ideals"
According to him, the lesson of the 16-year old Kiriji war which ravaged the
Yoruba land ended without anything to show for it, adding that secession should
not be the final solution. His words: "What we know, and what we are sure of is
that whatsoever oneness was there or not there, it did not prevent disastrous
wars from breaking out among the Yoruba. In fact, the Kiriji armistice, the
anniversary of which we are celebrating today, marked the end of 16 years of a
war that ravaged most of Yoruba land. This does not mean a thing. Therefore, I
must emphasize that at no time has the core definition of "self" in the self-
determination of the Yoruba include secession.
Has anything happened between 1999 and now to now extend the concept of self-
determination in Yoruba political values to include secession? The belief of
the Yoruba has always been that we can hold our own in a level playing field.
This is why the struggle for a level playing field has been and should remain
at the core of the Yoruba political activity"
He also dwelled on the legacies of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo whom he
pointed out that of all the founding fathers the nation had, he was the only
one who was jailed noting that through all his travails, he never advocated
secession.
"I must emphasize this, in his life time, through a tumultuous life history of
victories and failures, of triumphs and tragedies, Chief Awolowo never
contemplated secession", he said.
The former External Affairs Minister urged the Yoruba elite to live up to its
expectation.
Said he: "I call on the Yoruba political elite to put on its thinking cap,
enough of the ego trips and pomposity that impress no one, achieve nothing and
seek to destroy a heritage. The lesson of the Kiriji wars was that after 16
years of war, nothing was gained, but the Yoruba had suffered 16 years of
devastation".
Speaking earlier, the president of the foundation, Ambassador Olu Otunla in his
welcome address said "we are gathered here today in commemoration of that day
to renew and fulfill the aspirations of our leaders for peace, prosperity and
progress. It will be an occasion for remembrance and an opportunity for
reflection on the extent to which we understand the import of the vision of our
forebears".

   

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