Concerned Yoruba Indigenes (CYI),has implored all traditional rulers in the South-West to stop approving and installing Hausa/Fulani chieftaincy title in Yoruba towns and villages.
It noted that the stoppage became necessary in the advent kidnapping and killing of people in the South-West by some criminals masquerading as herdsmen.
The group conveyed the suggestion in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Ajalekoko Ojo, and made available to newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Thursday.
Alluding to the history of how Ilorin became a Fulani-dominated land, CYI appealed to the traditional rulers to stop what it described as “unpatriotic conducts that have the tendency to frustrate the Yoruba aspirations to have their own free nation.”
It warned that any attempt by any traditional ruler to ignore the call would be resisted.
The statement reads : “We will resist any attempt by any Yoruba Oba to “sell” our God given heritage to foreigners whose preoccupation is to subjugate other ethnic groups.No Oba would be allowed to trade our welfare and independence for money, herds of cows and big contracts from Abuja. Our heritage is not for sale. Any plan to install Sarkin Hausawa in Yoruba Nation would be resisted.
“We Yoruba want our own nation, our own independence, our own government totally free from the domination of the Hausa/Fulanis.The group is hereby sending a direct message to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba (Dr) Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III to cease and desist from his planned installation of Alhaji Abdul Yusuf as Sarkin Hausawa of Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State.
“We are sending the same warnings to any Oba with such present or future intentions to perish the thought. We the people supported your installations and we the people can call you out on your excesses.”
The group blamed traditional rulers for the spate of kidnapping, raping, maiming, extortions and killing in the Southwest by the Hausa/Fulani herdsmen, saying the it is high time indigenes began the work of a Watchdog.
The group further cautioned the South-West governors and monarchs to stop romancing with unprogressive politicians and Hausa/ Fulani.
The group said they needed “to work together with Yoruba indigenes for the recovery and rebuilding of our noble land that has for long suffered in the hand of the Hausa/Fulani-dominated government of Nigeria.”
