Yoruba group, Sowore harp on restructuring, new constitution

A coalition of Yoruba organisations in the Diaspora, Yoruba One Voice (YOV), has condemned the lackadaisical approach of President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the crucial call for restructuring and devolution of powers in Nigeria.

In a statement yesterday, Spokesman of the coalition, Mr. Zachaeus Somorin, warned that the Yoruba nation might be pushed to secede from Nigeria if the Federal Government continues to handle the issue of restructuring with levity.

He, therefore, appealed to members and organisations in the international community to urgently commence the framework for the review of Nigeria’s structure for peaceful dissolution.

Also, the Convener, #RevolutionNow, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, urged Nigerians to start pressing for a new constitution since the current 1999 Constitution is not leading the country anywhere.

Sowore, who spoke at a programme organised by a rights group, Coalition for Revolution (CORE), said the recent #EndSARS protests had further exposed the need for Nigeria to urgently change the current constitution if it hopes to progress and develop.

However, YOV, while reacting to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, that Buhari would not succumb to threats and undue pressure over the subject of restructuring, said: “This is to warn that such unpatriotic outbursts are both unhelpful and unwarranted.

“The swiftness by which the Presidency jetissoned the nationwide demand for restructuring in Nigeria is retrogressive, callous and uncouth.” Somorin, who stated that the YOV had placed the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) on notice about their intentions, said the Yoruba’s glory was being trampled upon based on how Nigeria is presently structured – politically.