Why Yoruba Groups Are Not Working With IPOB— Ilana Omo Oodua

While many in Southern Nigeria expect to see collaboration among groups seeking self-determination for their ethnic nationalties, this appears not to be the case.

The umbrella body for all Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, has however said there is an ongoing collaboration which excludes only the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu.

The Ilana Omo Oodua which is led by a renowned historian, Prof. Banji Akintoye, is leading the struggle for self-determination for Yoruba people in the Sout-West while IPOB which is headed by Nnamdi Kanu is leading the fight for Biafra Republic for the Igbo people on the South-East.

While speaking with THE WHISTLER on Saturday, the spokesman for the Ilana Omo Oodua, Mr Maxwell Adeleye, said the group was not collaborating with IPOB in anyway because it modus operandi were not the same.

He said the Akintoye-led group believe so much in peaceful approach to achieve its aim and would not be involved in violence.

He said despite the provocation from the police during the last Saturday rally to sensitize the people of Lagos State on the need to support the struggle for Yoruba nation, the group did not resort to violence.

He revealed that the Yoruba group is collaborating with only the Lower Niger Congress in the eastern part of Nigeria.

He said the group is part of those in the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination.

Adeleye said, ” Let me tell you categorically that the Ilana Omo Oodua is not in anyway collaborating with IPOB or Nnamdi Kanu. The two groups are different, our aims may be similar but we have no collaboration.

” We are using peaceful means to achieve our aim and let me tell you that we will achieve it and it will be done very soon. We are making progress on a daily basis.

“Ilana Omo Oodua is working towards self-determination for Yoruba people and IPOB is working to have Biafra.We are not against them but there is no relationship between us because our methods are different

” The only organisation in the eastwen part of Nigeria with which Illana Omo Oodua is collaborating under the aegis of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination is the Lower Niger Congress.

“Neither Prof. Banji Akintoye nor Ilana Omo Oodua is in any form of working relationship with Nnamdi Kanu or IPOB and this is our position.”