THE Coalition for Yoruba Autonomy (COYA), an umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, has revealed that a restructured Nigeria with regional autonomy is the only antidote to the crises of governance, corruption and underdevelopment bedevilling Nigeria.

It noted that a new federal structure with powers vested on the regions in relation to states within the respective jurisdiction of the regions would create ample opportunities for democratic engagement in driving accelerated development.

Speaking at a press conference held in Lagos on Tuesday, to celebrate Yoruba Martyrs, the President of COYA, President Evangelist Kunle Adeshokan said it has become a matter of urgent imperative to again re-assert that regional autonomy is the antidote to the maladies confronting the Nigeria’s project.

“For the Yorubas in particular, it has become pertinent to demand regional autonomy to define the pace and momentum of development within the Nigeria’s polity. COYA therefore join other interest groups and platforms in Yorubaland to demand for autonomy within the Nigeria’s democratic space.

“COYA is convinced that autonomy would in the short-term help mobilise and galvanise energies and passions of all Yorubas in the present six states of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Oyo as well as kinsmen in neighbouring states of Edo, Kwara and Kogi on the basis of cultural and social affinities towards genuine development driven by the fundamental reawakening of values that appeals to the aspirations and sensibilities of our people,” Adeshokan said.

The coalition, which comprise of the Federation of Yoruba Consciousness and Culture (FYCC);  Ojo-Ola Yoruba Initiatives (OYI); O’odua Revolutionary Movement (ORM); United Self-Determination Platform of O’odua (USEPO) and  Yoruba Transformation Alliance (YTA), also lamented that true national heroes and heroines are not celebrated in country.