By Amah
Leaders of the South-west geopolitical zone under the aegis if the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, have rejected a separate nation to be carved out of Nigeria for the Yoruba, as being canvassed in some wuarters.
Rather, the elders expressed their preference for a restructured Nigeria where true federalism reigns.
The YCE view was contained in a statement released on Sunday after the general assembly of Yoruba elders where it insisted on a restructured federal system.
“We have perused the document on the position of YSDM on the state of the nation and their views for the Yoruba race to be separated from Nigeria,” the statement partly read.
“The Yoruba Council of Elders remains firm in its position that the entity called and known as Nigeria should remain as one Nigeria.
“Accordingly, the YCE has pooled-in all shades of thoughts which shows that the majority of the Yoruba race feel cheated by the present lop-sided arrangement of the federating powers but they are solidly against going away from the Nigerian arrangement.
“They would rather go back to the agreement of our founding fathers when the region administration was autonomous.
“YCE, therefore, stands firmly on the position of the founding fathers who maintained togetherness but operated independently and contributed their quota to foster administration at the centre.
“To this extent, we would rather have a restructured Nigeria which will allow states to function independently as part of a whole.
“Let it be known that the strength of the unity lies in the socio-cultural inheritance of each section of the country and these can be deployed through education and efficiency of management. Our great country must rise again and we all will be in it together.”
