Nigeria’s Unity: Group advises parents, traditional leaders to caution youths

The Yoruba Appraisal Forum, YAF has called on parents and traditional leaders to guide and caution their children and youths in their domains against unpatriotic acts that could destabilise the unity of Nigeria. The Forum also called on the police and other security agencies to clearly identify groups and individuals working against Nigeria’s unity and take action on them.

The group’s National Coordinator, Mr Adesina Animashaun who said this in a press statement said YAF is a body that clearly supports the unity and oneness of Nigeria.

This is in reaction to the Police ban on a peace rally/sensitisation motorcade organised by YAF to hold in Lagos. In the past recent months, YAF has organised similar rallies in many states in the South-West part of the country to sensitise youths on the need to be patriotic to Nigeria and avoid violence and acts that could disintegrate the nation.

Animashaun noted in the statement that the group’s intentions have been misinterpreted by the police.

“Firstly, we have to quickly state that YAF has nothing to do with the Yoruba Nation agitators. We’re a law-abiding coalition of other Yoruba groups under the aegis of Yoruba Appraisal Forum, whose main objective remains peace advocacy throughout Yorubaland and all over Nigeria.

“We want to make it abundantly clear that YAF is not affiliated to any group or individuals promoting or championing the disintegration or dismemberment of the Nigerian Federation.

“We are not agitators but peacemakers, campaigning to dissuade our youths from threading the destructive path to violence being championed by individuals and groups masquerading as fighters for Yoruba freedom, independence and self-determination. We believe in the unity and indivisibility of the Nigerian nation.

“It’s unfortunate that the police misunderstood and misconstrued our peace rally/Sensitisation Motorcade. If we were like the other so-called Yoruba groups agitating for the disintegration and dissolution of Nigeria, we wouldn’t have sought permission of the Nigeria Police and the DSS to carry out the peace rally/sensitisation motorcade, and even invite these security agencies to send some of their operatives to the venue to provide adequate security against hoodlums.

“The PPRO has, therefore, woefully failed to separate the wheat from the chaff by his wholesale tagging of YAF as a Yoruba Nation agitator group in his Thursday’s statement. This is unfortunate and unacceptable. YAF is, however, not deterred by the current situation. Infact, this police action against us has served to further encourage us not to relent in our consistent struggle for Peace throughout Yorubaland and all over our dear country, Nigeria” he said.

Animashaun also advised South-West youths to be cautious about aiding groups and individuals acting under the guise of agitating for an independent Yoruba nation to destabilise the region.

He said the group will continue to mobilise Yoruba people to pursue peace and unity in Nigeria.