UN protest: Yoruba Nation agitators list six demands

Yoruba Nation agitators and other self-determination groups have listed six demands ahead of their protest at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The agitators threatened that the “biggest March” will hold on September 24, the day the President Muhammadu Buhari, will address the United Nations General Assembly.

This is as the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Femi Adesina, announced on Sunday that the president has departed Nigeria for the 76th UN General Assembly in New York Sunday.

A spokesperson for the agitators, Maxwell Adeleye in a statement listed the demands as the abolition of the 1999 Constitution and the suspension of further elections (Particularly the 2023 elections), conduct a referendum, end to Fulani Genocide, end to Oligarchy, and declaration of Miyyeti Allah as a terrorist organisation among others.

The statement quoted Chairman of NINAS, Prof. Banji Akintoye, as saying, “Rather than listen to the yearnings and aspirations of our people, the Buhari-led government has consistently waged war against people who attempt to checkmate the menace of Miyyetii Allah in the name of grazing of cows.

“Our appeal to the government, therefore, is to address the issues raised in the December 16, 2020 Constitution Force Majure declared by NINAS. This appeal is necessary so that Indigenous Nationalities in NINAS Territories can peacefully negotiate for what they want without further delay.

“Our demand remains conduct of a referendum so that the Indigenous people of the South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria can lawfully and legally decide on their nationhood and sovereignty. We demand the immediate abolition of the imposed 1999 Constitution.

“We demand an end to the genocide being perpetrated by Miyyetii Allah against our people. Miyyetii Allah is a Terrorist group and it should be declared such by the United Nations. The invasion of our land in the name of grazing is enough. What is happening in our Territories today is State-sponsored Terrorism and Land grab, not cow grazing.

“We shall resume the March on 24th September, Opposite the United Nations Headquarters to tell President Muhammad Buhari to his face that his Miyyetii Allah people are the enemy number one of the people of South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria, and they are the authentic Terrorists,” they said.

(The PUNCH)