Politics
APAPO Oodua Koya, AOKOYA, Yoruba self-determination group, has warned Abubakar Said, Sultan of Sokoto and other Fulani leaders in Nigeria that the group will resist invasion of Yorubaland by Fulani herdsmen. The group said the latest antics by Fulani nation to takeover Yorubaland by force will not work.
In an open letter to the Sultan of Sokoto and the Fulani leaders made available to Realnews, the group alleged that the underlining factor in this attacks on innocent citizens is designed to conquer the entire country, not through ideas, but through the most savage tradition of killings and maiming. The letter signed by Col. Abimbola Sowumi (rtd) and Salau Ahmed Akorede, said they were aware of Fulani’s grand plan to renew a project done half way and put on mute mode since 1840.
“We are worried that you and your Fulani people have been suspiciously silent on the kidnapping of Yoruba people, the killing of our young professionals, including the killing of the daughter of a prominent Yoruba leader. We were not surprised that you and the other Fulani leaders did not consider it necessary to send condolence messages or even visit the family of the slain woman. This can only mean your tacit approval or at least, a philosophy of cold compromise,” the letter said.
According to the group, in the past two years, records show that 689 Yoruba people have been kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen and about 400 reported cases of rape, including rape of toddlers. It stated that out of this number of the kidnapped, 356 were women and out of that number, 250 were married women.
“In all, 112 people were killed by your Fulani people either for resisting kidnap or for failing to pay ransom. This may mean nothing to you, but to us, it means a lot. We urge you to imagine a group of armed Yoruba cocoa farmers storming forests in Kano, Katsina and Sokoto, kidnapping Fulani people, raping their young girls and even killing the daughter of an Emir or a prominent Fulani leader? Can you also imagine the same heavily armed Yoruba cocoa farmers occupying your forests, stopping your people from farming and preventing your people from plying the highways in their ancestral homes?
“To make the matter worse, imagine the armed Yoruba cocoa farmers carry out these terrible crimes under the banner of a Yoruba man as the Nigerian President. How will you feel? As it is, your people, the Fulani are digging their hands down our throats. They are entering our bedrooms and sleeping with our mothers and wives. These actions are not only against Islam, they are against humanity.
“These latest actions plus our experiences in the past have combined to renew the energy of millions of Yoruba people, who want a country of their own. Either you like it or not, this will happen. God, before whom you and your big crown are like but a filthy rag, will make it happen. We urge you to prepare yourself to dialogue or if you chose the path of violence, there will be proportional response. Having Yoruba or Igbo Republics is something you do not wish to hear, but which is imminent and inevitable.
“Please be aware that the Yoruba do not begrudge your values and the ways of your living, all we are saying is that we want to live our lives, design our political and cultural architecture, live and die on our own terms. The forthcoming Yoruba Republic will be glad to accommodate righteous Fulani people, who respect our civilisations and the laws of our fatherland.
“We wish to use this opportunity to advice you and your people to be aware that you have no power to conquer Yoruba Nation. Your forebears tried and failed. Your military and political surrogates tried, marked with killings, maiming and destruction of our economy, yet they failed. We ask you to instruct your people, the armed Fulani herdsmen to withdraw from Yoruba territories and on their own, mop up the cache of arms and ammunition stored in Yoruba territories.
“Sir, the Yoruba people stand for peace and not war. We would prefer these issues to be resolved amicably without firing any gun shot. But, we wish to say that if your heart remains rebellious and your soul defiant, the Yoruba people are not afraid to confront you once again the way we did some 175 years ago, this time in the most ferocious manner you can ever imagine. It is necessary to let you know this even though we are aware that you will not change the conquest desires of your heart,” the letter added.
– Aug. 12, 2019 @ 13:19 GMT |
Tags: We’ll resist invasion of Yorubaland by Fulani herdsmen – AOKOYA
