The Oodua Action Movement (OAM), a body in association with other Yoruba self-determination groups, representing the Yoruba people in the South-West, Nigeria, has petitioned the President of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, over failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to take action on the demand for self-determination and autonomy for Yoruba race.
Through one of its solicitors, Oranmiyo Biobakun, the group noted that on September 23, 2020, it sent a letter to President Buhari demanding for self-determination and autonomy for the Yoruba people from the Federal Government of Nigeria in accordance with the resolution and provisions of the United Nations Charter.
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However, the group lamented that President Buhari had not responded to the letter.
It stressed that the General Assembly Resolution 1514 (1960) stated that “all peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they may freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”
Besides, Article 1(2) of the Charter stressed the need to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace
In addition, Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights pointedly states that “All peoples shall have the right to existence and also have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination.
“They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen.
“Colonized or oppressed peoples shall have the right to free themselves from the bonds of domination by resorting to any means recognised by the international community.
“All peoples shall have the right to the assistance of the State Parties to the present Charter in their liberation struggle against foreign domination, be it political, economic, or cultural.”
OAM said the letter was a formal request to the government of Nigeria sequel to the popular clamour for self-determination and autonomy of the constituent nationalities which comprised the Yoruba people of the south-west, the people of the Middle-Belt, and the Biafra people of the eastern region.
It pointed out that the Yorubas which comprised over 60 million population had expressed their desire to peacefully leave the purported amalgamation midwifed by the British in 1914.
