2023: We Will Not Support Tinubu – Yoruba Nation Agitators

The umbrella body for the emancipation and independence of the South West geopolitical zone has said that they will not be supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The President of Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO) and leader of Yoruba Self-Determination Movement (YSDM), Prof. Banji Akintoye made this known in recent interview with select journalists.

Prof. Akintoye insists that the agitation for Yoruba Nation won’t stop and it would be achieved before the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

He, however, stated that the group was not against the ambition of the former governor as he has every right to contest the presidency but the objectives of the Yoruba nation’s cause are at variance with his ambition.

He said “Our attitude is this, our big brother, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is struggling to become the president of Nigeria, there is nothing wrong with that. But we would not because of him collapse our struggle for the Yoruba nation, just as we cannot ask him to collapse his own campaign for the Yoruba nation.

“So, we have here two parallel lines in the same country, among the same people. What we handling the Yoruba self-determination struggle must do is to be thoughtful, competent, and proper in the ways we handle matters. We don’t believe we will be in Nigeria in 2023. And by the grace of God, we are not going to be in Nigeria in 2023.”

Speaking further, he said that the group had no intention to hurt Tinubu and he hoped the APC flag bearer would also extend the same courtesy.

He explained that the group is law abiding and do not shun the law and would carry out their campaigns in an orderly manner.

“The boys who want the Yoruba self-determination movement will never hurt the campaign of these our kinsmen. So, what we are asking for is that the campaign of these our kinsmen must not attempt to hurt the Yoruba self-determination struggle. The two streams must flow freely and leave it to our people to decide,” he added.