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Oodua Republic: October 1 Protest Should Not Involve Violence- Prof. Akintoye

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Banji Akintoye has said violence will cause distractions to the struggle of the people.

News Rain gathered that the President-General of Yoruba World Congress (YWC), Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye has called on well-meaning Yoruba people within and beyond the nation of Nigeria that want to stage a liberation protest on October 1st never to engage in confrontation with the men and officers of the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agencies.

What Prof. Akintoye Said About Oodua Republic October 1 Protest

He said: “violence would cause a damage distractions to the liberation struggle and give us a bad image”.

The renowned historian said the Yoruba people are intellectually sophisticated, brilliant, intelligent, and grounded enough to achieve their liberation without resorting to violence.

In a statement personally signed by him and made available to newsmen through his Media Office, Akintoye said the Yoruba people in Nigeria are very proud of those in the diaspora who have decided to lead the battle.

The statement read in part: “As Yoruba people in Diaspora hold mass rallies in many countries of the world on October 1, I warmly congratulate and thank them all.

“All Yoruba people back home in Nigeria are watching them with joy, gratitude, and pride. Yoruba people at home are grateful that you are showing the wide world the horrific conditions in which Yoruba people live in Nigeria.

“The barbarous invasion of our land by a people, the Fulani, who are part of Nigeria, the fiendish killings of our people and the destruction of our homes and means of livelihood. And the massive importations of armed men to our towns and cities.

“For Yoruba people at home in Nigeria, my message is to repeat my earlier messages: Please keep our rallies thoroughly peaceful. Never display any rowdy or disruptive behavior. Never get into an argument or confrontation with law enforcement personnel. If the police anywhere ask you not to rally or to dispense, disperse peacefully.

“Always remember that your message is too important to allow confrontations or distractions. Your Yoruba nation is powerful. It commands the intellectual, human, and other resources to achieve its self-determination in a peaceful and law-abiding manner.

“It is good to hold rallies. Rallies help to spread the message. But we must not allow our rallies to create outcomes that can disrupt, obstruct, or distract from our central message.”

Recall that this is the second time within 48 hours that the Professor would speak in this regard.