Ijebu Youths Disagree with Akinrinade on Referendum

The Ijebu Youth Congress (IYC), the umbrella body of youths in the old Ijebu province, has accused the Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd)-led Yoruba Assembly of misrepresenting facts in its purported resolution calling for a referendum as a basis for the continued peaceful co-existence of Nigeria as indivisible entity. The group in a statement issued to THISDAY by its President, Adedoyin Banjo-Adeniyi, has distanced itself from the position of the Yoruba Assembly, which recently called for a referendum as a basis for the continued existence of Nigeria.

The group expressed confidence in the initiatives of the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to douse the inter-ethnic tension in the country, while reaffirming confidence in Osinbajo’s ability to steer the ship of the nation in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari. The group in the statement added that the people of old Ijebu province have not mandated anybody or group to speak on its behalf regarding the continued existence of Nigeria or otherwise.

“The Ijebu nation is an autonomous community before the 1892 Imagbon War and so will not need anybody to make a case for us in respect of our relationship with other ethnic nationalities cohabiting in the Nigerian space.”