Agitators for the secession of the Yoruba-speaking Southwest of Nigeria, Ilana Omo Oodua on Saturday shut down Akure metropolis, the capital of Ondo State, for several hours addressing the people on the decision to pull out of the federation.

Converging on the parking lot at Isinkan roundabout as early as 8 am, members of the group came from all the 18 local government areas of the state in readiness for the peaceful rally for the secession of the region from Nigeria.

They were also joined by different splinter agitation groups and residents of the metropolis who came out in their large numbers with different barmers, calling for the secession of the Yoruba without delay.

One of the most prominent among the inscriptions on the barbers was “Nigeria Is Killing Its People. Kill Nigeria Before Nigeria Kills You.”

Arriving Akure around 3pm, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, headed straight to the Palace of Deji of Akure Kingdom where he briefed the monarch about the reasons for the agitation for secession of Yoruba from Nigeria.

Oba Aladetoyinbo, who was out of town, was represented by the Edemo of Akure kingdom, High Chief Afolabi Fayehun.

In his address, Sunday explained that the way politicians, especially the northern oligarchs, were running the affairs of the nation Nigeria was at variance with the needs of the Yoruba.

He emphasised that the current politicians were only busy looting the common patrimony of the nation without recourse to the survival of the common people.

Sunday said the Yoruba were tired of the misrule of President Buhari who deliberately marginalised the Yoruba in appointments and infrastructure projects awards.

He referred to insecurity the incessant killings being perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen, who are kinsmen of the President, and the lackadaisical attitude of the President towards the crimes.

The leader of the agitators emphasised that the secession was inevitable because the people could no longer continue with the suffering unleashed on them by the Federal Government.

He noted that in the new Yoruba nation, like Saudi Arabia, traditional institution would take charge of who runs the affairs of the nation by recommending candidates for different elective positions.

Sunday reemphasized that there would be no election in 2023 because the Yoruba would have pulled out of Nigeria before then.

He urged youths to continue to respect elders, particularly the traditional rulers, saying they have declared their support for the agitation.

Igboho also disclosed that they have the support of all governors in the region, promising that they would pursue the agitation to success without violence.

The Deji of Akure kingdom urged the agitators and the residents of the metropolis to pursue the agitation without fomenting trouble.

He therefore prayed for Sunday Adeyemo and all those who were in the crusade wishing them all safe trip back to their various destinations.

Addressing the mammoth crowd earlier at Cathedral junction, the national General Secretary of Ilana Omo Oodua, Chief Opeoluwa Akintayo declared that the Yoruba are pulling out of Nigeria because of the nepotism and disrespect for the principles of true federalism by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

He alleged the northern oligarchs of nepotism and placing mediocrity over merit.

According to Opeoluwa, the Yoruba were marginalized in employment into federal ministries, departments and agencies irrespective of their academic qualifications.

Omojowo Victor, state coordinator of the group, said it’s high time the Yoruba pulled out of Nigeria because the future is bleak and there were no indications that the way the nation is currently being administered would change for better.

He said the Yoruba preferred to pull out of the Nigeria nation so they could take of themselves.

According to Victor, “We prefer to stay on our owo. We are one people, one culture and one language. We are not Nigerians..

We are peaceful people that’s why they are cheating us.

Police, Civil Defence and the military are not our enemies.. They are suffering too.”