Our agitation is for a restructured Nigeria, not for the Yoruba president, says Bolawole

Bola Bolawole is one of the supporters of the Yoruba Nation Call. In this interview with Kehinde Olatunji, he talked about issues akin to separatist unrest and the uproar among the leaders of the Yoruba nation.Buhari's nepotistic attitude has fueled calls for separatist unrest

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What prompted the recent protests in Ojota, where someone was allegedly killed at a time when many believed you had toned down your campaign, just like the Biafra agitators? Well, as far as I know, the agitation for Biafra has not died down. You may experience what we call a lull in the activities of people or organizations. There may be low points in the hustle, but that doesn't mean the hustle has been abandoned. I am not aware that the Biafrans have given up their struggle nor am I aware that those who are fighting for the Yoruba nation like Sunday Igboho, Professor Banji Akintoye and their followers have given up their struggle. Maybe they approach it in other forms, but I think they are still campaigning for their own separate entities outside of Nigeria.

But on Sunday Igboho distanced himself from the protest in Ojota I haven't seen anyone saying that he was the one who organized the protest in Ojota but of course I am aware that it is not possible to have a commotion without some people being behind it. What we should do, instead of asking Gani Adams or Igboho, go see some of the protesters. They should be able to tell us who is behind it. Since the people who gathered there are humans, they should be able to tell us who brought them there and the purpose of their gathering. Do you think the appeal to the Yoruba nation is necessary at this time, given that the elections are fast approaching? This is very much needed as the situation which caused turmoil for the Yoruba nation is still very present. I am sure you know that five to ten years ago we had heard nothing of unrest for the Yoruba nation. But somehow we started hearing about the turmoil, especially with the unbridled nepotism of General Muhammadu Buhari's government, how he put the Fulani at the top of the country's economy, how he placed the Fulani at the top of the economy, the security architecture of the country, how he moved this country from a federation of nationalities to the domain of the Fulani. This is what made other ethnic nationalities think that if they did nothing, they would soon become the slaves of the Fulani.

They felt they had to agitate to free themselves from the Fulani. This situation is still there. Look at the structure in the NNPC, it's still Fulani, look at the structure in the security sector, it's still Fulani. With every appointment they make now, the majority will always be Fulani. So those who agitate against the imbalance, I think they are justified in continuing their agitation until the imbalance is corrected.

Since the departure of the Fulani president, don't you think that the Yoruba nation should calm down until the arrival of a new government, which could even favor it since a Yoruba is also in the race ? A Fulani president is expected to leave in May. Let's hope he leaves, because we are already told that the elections may not take place or be postponed due to the so-called insecurity. So, if the elections do not take place or are postponed, what happens? Will the Fulani president remain in office or will there be an interim national government or what are we going to have? So, it's too early to say that the Fulani president is leaving, it's too early to say that there will be elections. Recall that among the four presidential candidates in the lead, we have two Northerners there and the election can go anywhere. So don't be too sure where the pendulum is going to swing. I want Nigerians to devote themselves to the cause of equity, fairness and justice. Only when you have justice, equity and justice can there be peace, progress and development. If there is an ethnic group that thinks it can continue to dominate others and continue to do whatever it wants, it is foolhardy to think so. As a philosopher said; If you hold power today, don't think you will keep it forever, if you control forces today, don't think you will control forces forever, if you oppress people today, don't think not that you will oppress them forever, one of these days they will fight for freedom and that is what we are seeing happening in Nigeria now. One word is enough for the wise.

What do you think of the internal crisis of the Ilana Yoruba group between Professor Banji Akintoye, Professor Wale Adeniran and Maxwell Adeleye? It is very unfortunate that they are fighting each other. ...