A leading Yoruba Nation agitator and leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye has urged the federal government of Nigeria to suspend preparations for the 2023 general elections.
This is as he and others with him vowed to explore and pursue all legal means in ensuring a referendum to determine Nigeria’s continued existence or otherwise as a united country takes place.
According to him, the referendum is the only condition under which preparations for the 2023 general elections should be allowed to continue.
Professor Akintoye said this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Lagos State by Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) in which he was represented by Don Pedro Obaseki.
Others also present at the briefing either physically or virtually were Prof. Yusufu Turaki, Prof. Wale Adeniran, Dr Rotimi Olokodana, Barr. Tony Nnadi, Otunba Folashade Olukoya, Mr. Ogbo Awoke, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, Ms Jean Onaguluchi, and others.
In his words, “Let it be sounded loud and clear that the immediate suspension of preparations towards general elections in 2023 is the most urgently required first aid to the Nigeria that is currently bleeding profusely from all sides.
“And for every single day, this emergency first aid is delayed, the risk of catastrophic implosion of Nigeria is exponentially increased.”
NINAS also called on political parties to join the struggle by refusing to submit candidates for the polls and demand the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
It described the 1999 Constitution as an agent of slavery and fraud, promoting injustice, under-development and impunity in the South and Middle Belt of Nigeria, adding that the people must be allowed to determine what they want.
The group reiterated that it remains focused on its planned “one million march” being organized to hold in front of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) commencing from September 14- 24, 2021 in New York.
“If we halt the voyage to 2023 inside 2021, the 1999 Constitution will lose its life inside 2021, and we will immediately get into a transitioning and therefore on the way to regional referendums for Self-Determination.
“This is the safe route to freedom for all constituent blocs that are fed up with the toxic Nigerian union,” the body stated.
This article was originally published on Naija News