The Yoruba National Youth group has voiced strong opposition to the last-minute cancellation of the Yoruba National Unity Day event by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). The event was set to take place at the university’s Oduduwa Hall.
Leaders of the group, Prophet Ayodele Ologunloluwa and Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole, condemned the university’s decision, asserting that OAU was established with funding from the Western Yoruba Government.
Originally scheduled to commemorate the end of the Kiriji War in 1886, the event was moved to a different venue in Ile Ife, where it still attracted a significant crowd from various states, including those in the South West, as well as Edo, Kwara, Kogi, and Delta.
Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye, a prominent historian, emphasized the Yoruba people’s aspirations for autonomy, declaring, “There is no going back on Yoruba Nation autonomy… We Yoruba people want our independent and sovereign country as soon as possible.”
### Key Demands and Concerns:
– **Reversal of Event Cancellation**: The group is demanding a clear explanation for the abrupt cancellation and urges the university to reconsider its decision.
– **Yoruba Autonomy**: The youth group is advocating for independence and self-determination, pointing to a history of perceived oppression and harm.
– **Preservation of Yoruba Culture**: Leaders highlighted the importance of safeguarding the Yoruba language and cultural heritage.
The event included lectures on Yoruba history, anthropology, and security issues, underscoring the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence among the Yoruba people.
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