Insecurity and Identity: Yoruba Union Demands President Tinubu Reclassify Kwara and Kogi Territories A prominent Yoruba socio-cultural organization, the Yoruba Union, known as Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has issued a direct and impassioned plea to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to wield his presidential authority to formally excise Kwara State and parts of Kogi State from their long-standing classification as “northern states.” The group contends that this political categorization is a profound misrepresentation, arguing that these regions are historically, culturally, and linguistically Yoruba heartlands. In a strongly-worded statement released on a recent Sunday, the union framed its demand as a matter of existential urgency, directly linking the political mislabeling to escalating violence and systemic marginalization faced by Yoruba communities in the area. The call to action underscores a deepening crisis of identity and security in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, a region often caught in the crossfire of the country’s complex ethnic and geopolitical tensions. A Historic Anomaly and a Call for Rectification The statement, jointly signed by the Convener, Olusola Badero, and the Home Director, Princess Balogun, left no room for ambiguity. The union emphasized that Kwara South, Kwara Central, and Kogi West are indisputably Yoruba-speaking territories, bound to the broader Yoruba nation by deep ancestral and cultural ties. To classify them as “northern,” the group argues, is not merely an administrative error but an act of historical fraud that facilitates their political and economic disenfranchisement. “How can Yoruba-speaking communities be labeled as northerners? It is fraudulent and unjust,” the statement declared. “Our official language is Yoruba, not Hausa, and our people have never identified as Fulani or Hausa.” This reclassification, they believe, is a necessary first step in reclaiming their identity and securing their rights within the Nigerian federation. The union warned President Tinubu, himself a Yoruba leader, that his legacy would be judged by his response to this issue. “If he fails to act now, history will not forgive him for complicity through silence and inaction as Yoruba lives continue to be lost,” the statement read, placing the weight of historical accountability squarely on the president’s shoulders. The Insecurity Nexus: Vigilantes, Herders, and Alleged State Complicity The political demand is inextricably linked to a severe and worsening security situation on the ground. The Yoruba Union expressed “deep concern” over what it described as a coordinated campaign of violence by Fulani herders. The group alleged that these individuals, “operating under the guise of cattle rearing,” have been responsible for a wave of killings, kidnappings, and violent land grabs, creating an atmosphere of siege in Yoruba farmlands and communities. The crisis reached a tragic crescendo on the very Sunday the statement was issued. The union reported that more than 10 Yoruba vigilantes and forest guards were killed in Kwara South in attacks they directly attributed to Fulani herders. These local defenders, often volunteers with limited resources, have become the front line in the community’s struggle for safety. Perhaps the most incendiary allegation leveled by the group involves the role of the federal government. The statement accused authorities of arming the very groups perpetrating the violence. “It is disheartening that Miyetti Allah members, who have been implicated in attacks on our people, are the same individuals who were given AK-47 rifles to ‘protect’ us,” the union stated. “How can murderers be assigned as protectors? It is nothing short of betrayal.” An Existential Threat and a Calculated Takeover Beyond the immediate bloodshed, the Yoruba Union portrays the situation as a deliberate strategy to displace indigenous populations. The statement described a pattern of destruction where farms are ravaged, women are assaulted, and families are forcibly displaced from their ancestral homes. “This is nothing but a calculated attempt to take over our ancestral homes,” the group asserted. “The Nigerian government must stop arming the very group that is terrorising us. These so-called herders have turned into marauders determined to erase our presence in our own homeland.” This language reflects a perception common in many conflict zones across Nigeria’s Middle Belt: that farmer-herder clashes are not just resource conflicts but a form of ethnic cleansing and territorial expansion. The union was unequivocal in its instructions to President Tinubu, demanding he “withdraw the so-called ‘Bororos’ deployed to Kwara South with immediate effect and ensure the protection of Yoruba lives and property.” They insisted that the President’s “own people have become vulnerable in their ancestral lands,” and that any refusal to intervene would be seen as “complicity.” A Call for Unity and Solidarity Across Yorubaland Recognizing that government action may be slow or unforthcoming, the Yoruba Union also issued a clarion call for self-reliance and communal solidarity. The group appealed to Yoruba communities “at home and in the diaspora to unite in providing humanitarian and logistical support to local vigilante groups across Yoruba land.” This highlights a growing trend in Nigeria: as state security apparatuses fail to protect rural communities, local vigilante groups have proliferated, often becoming the de facto security providers. However, these groups are typically underfunded and outgunned, leading to tragic outcomes like the recent killings in Kwara South. “The Yoruba nation worldwide must not abandon these brave men,” the statement urged. “They are the last line of defense against an existential threat. Their sacrifices must be recognised, and their families must be supported.” Honoring the Fallen and Fortifying the Resolve In a poignant tribute, the union extended its solidarity to the families of the slain vigilantes, memorializing them as heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. “We commiserate with the families of our gallant defenders who died while serving humanity. We pray to God to console their loved ones and strengthen the resolve of our people to resist invasion,” the statement said. They reserved particular praise for the “uncompromising local vigilantes” who, despite being severely underequipped, have remained steadfast in their commitment to protecting their homeland. This recognition is crucial for morale and underscores the deep community support these groups often enjoy, even as they operate in a legal grey area. The Bigger Picture: A Nation Grappling with Fault Lines The demands from the Yoruba Union speak to a much larger, ongoing national conversation in Nigeria about federalism, state creation, and resource control. The arbitrary boundaries drawn during the colonial era often grouped disparate ethnic groups together, creating states where the dominant culture does not reflect the diversity within. The situation in Kwara and Kogi is a classic example of this legacy. For decades, there have been movements and agitations from the Yoruba communities in these states, often referred to as “Yoruba of the Kwara and Kogi,” seeking greater political autonomy or a formal return to their kith and kin in the South-West. Their struggle is a mirror of similar agitations across Nigeria, where ethnic minorities within states seek recognition and self-determination. The escalating insecurity has now poured fuel on these long-smoldering embers of identity politics. When communities feel abandoned by the state and targeted by violent actors, they inevitably fall back on ethnic and cultural solidarity for protection and solace. The Yoruba Union’s statement is a manifestation of this very phenomenon. As the group concluded, “This is not just a call for reclassification but a demand for survival. The Yoruba race cannot and will not be subjected to a fraudulent northern identity or left at the mercy of armed aggressors parading as herders. The time for decisive action is now.” The ball is now in President Tinubu’s court. How his administration responds—or fails to respond—to this potent mix of identity crisis and security emergency will have significant implications for national cohesion and the stability of Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt region. Full credit to the original publisher: Arewa Agenda – Source link
2025-09-30