By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — The Committee for the Actualisation of Yoruba Self Determination (CAYSD) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to convene talks among Nigeria’s constituent ethnic nationalities on the country’s constitutional future, including the possibility of an independent Yoruba Nation.
The group made the demand as part of activities marking Nigeria’s October 1 Independence Anniversary, announcing the commencement of what it described as an organised, legal, peaceful and democratic examination of Yoruba self-determination.
In a statement on Wednesday signed on behalf of CAYSD by Professor Ademola Araoye, the group said the initiative represented a shift from its longstanding advocacy for the restructuring of Nigeria into a genuine federation.
It argued that repeated efforts to secure greater autonomy for Nigeria’s constituent regions had failed, and said the possibility of an Oduduwa/Yoruba Nation should now be placed on the table for public discussion, constitutional engagement and democratic consideration.
The statement was endorsed by several members of the committee, including Professor Banji Akintoye, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Dr Akin Fapohunda, Mrs Modenike Tejuade Babington Ashaye, Professor Kunle Olawunmi, General Gani Raji, Chief John Oni, Senator Tunji Adelekan, Dr Olatunde Hamzat, Pekun Tomori, Chief Kikelomo Laniyonu Edwards, Fatai Ogunribido, Chief Imam Aduanigba and Tola Adeniyi.
CAYSD stressed that its initiative would not involve violence, ethnic intimidation, armed mobilisation, attacks on public institutions or coercion of communities.
“We intend instead to rely upon civic consultation, public enlightenment, scholarship, constitutional advocacy, dialogue, lawful assembly, engagement with elected institutions, negotiation with other nationalities and the pursuit of a credible democratic mechanism through which the wishes of the people can be expressed,” it said.
Group cites regional development
CAYSD said its position was informed by what it described as decades of political, economic and security challenges under Nigeria’s current federal structure.
It recalled the regional system that existed before the military intervention of 1966, arguing that it allowed regional governments to determine priorities, mobilise resources and establish institutions according to the needs of their populations.
The group cited developments in Western Nigeria from 1952 in education, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, broadcasting, housing, public administration and industrial development.
It also attributed what it described as the subsequent decline of industries in Yorubaland to the centralisation that followed military rule.
CAYSD said the country’s current challenges, including insecurity, economic difficulties and the migration of skilled Nigerians abroad, required a broader debate about Nigeria’s political structure and the conditions necessary for citizens to thrive.
It listed reliable electricity, security, modern transportation, functioning schools and universities, competitive industries, digital infrastructure, healthcare, research, agriculture, housing and an administration that rewards enterprise among the conditions it believes are necessary.
Seeks National Assembly intervention
The group appealed to the National Assembly, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to facilitate discussions between Yoruba representatives and other ethnic nationalities on Nigeria’s constitutional future.
“For the good of all, it is time for the leadership of the Nigerian State as represented by the National Assembly and led by Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio to as a matter of urgency facilitate talks by the Yorubas with all other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria,” it said.
CAYSD said Nigerians should discuss how they had lived together and how they wished to organise their political future, arguing that the four-year electoral cycle should not prevent debate on the country’s constitutional structure.
The group said its proposed self-determination process should remain open to competing constitutional preferences, including continued federalism, confederation or other arrangements.
It also cited constitutional debates involving Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom as examples of political and democratic processes through which questions concerning the future status of constituent peoples could be addressed.
According to CAYSD, peaceful advocacy for self-determination should not automatically be regarded as hostility towards Nigeria.
It said such questions should instead be addressed through public argument, constitutional negotiation and democratic consent.
‘Tinubu’s background should not halt debate’
The group said President Tinubu’s Yoruba background should not prevent discussion of the Oduduwa/Yoruba constitutional question.
“The CAYSD initiative is at an historically significant moment because the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is himself of Yoruba extraction. We do not consider this circumstance a reason to suspend discussion of the Oduduwa/Yoruba Constitutional question,” it said.
CAYSD said it had formally notified the President of what it called a “new phase” of Yoruba constitutional engagement with Nigeria.
It added that the initiative was being launched ahead of the 2027 general elections because, in its view, the constitutional question should not be subordinated to the four-year electoral cycle.
The group also referred to an August 17–21 conference of the Concerned Citizens Assembly in Abuja, which it said affirmed the desire of 15 ethnic nationalities to pursue self-determination.
It did not, however, provide independent evidence to establish that the views expressed at the conference represented all members of the nationalities referenced.
CAYSD maintained that discussions on the fundamentals of Nigeria’s political structure had become an “urgent imperative” and urged the Federal Government, the National Assembly and other stakeholders to engage the issue openly and through democratic means.
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