EDUPEDIA247

Edwin Madunagu The importance and urgency of this subject to the Nigerian Left, at this time, demand that I begin the discussion with a series of clear propositions. And that is what I intend to do here. None of the propositions, in its essence, will be new to the movement or in the movement. What may be new will be the way they are articulated and brought together here. The over-flogged and yet not too-illuminated subject, the national question, may enter this particular discussion because of its connection with the question of national unity. The first two propositions will establish the link I am making between “revolution” and “national unity” in Nigeria. The opening proposition is this: Historically and philosophically, “revolution” is the core reason—if not the only reason—for the emergence, continued existence, vitality and resilience of the political Left. In fact, the political Left will cease to exist in essence if “revolution”, conceived as the overthrow of a class-st...

Former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope A former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, has said those calling for the break-up of Nigeria are acting against the ideals of the late Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The President-General of the Yoruba World Congress, Professor Banji Akintoye, had on Wednesday claimed that over 55 million Yoruba people in the South-West would get freedom by having the sovereign Yoruba nation without breaking the law of Nigeria or shedding blood. Former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope The retired don said, “We have been saying we will have the Yoruba nation. The Yoruba World Congress is committed to helping the Yoruba nation to secure its position in the comity of nations.” But Babatope described the call for Oduduwa Republic as premature. Speaking to Vanguard, he said, “Those of us, including Professor Banji Akintoye, know that if Baba Awolowo were alive, he would never call for the bre...

Akinbode Olufemi, deputy executive director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth (ERA), an organisation that advocates for the environment, has stressed the urgency for the amendment of relevant sessions of the new Water Bill which is currently in consideration by the National Assembly. Olufemi said the National Water Resource Bill would give private sector players unrestricted access to the country’s water bodies for commercial use. He said governments across the globe had stopped using the public, private partnership model to manage its water resources and the Nigerian government is just starting to consider what is already obsolete. Olufemi pointed out that several parts of the law are too grey and require clarification, adding that the federal government is being autocratic in responding to Nigerians and civil society organisations to the proposed legislation. “There is an attempt to be able to divert water freely for commercial agriculture. If big farmers...

State of Nigeria (1996 – date) Yoruba leaders across states where there are indigenous Yoruba in Nigeria are sharply divided over the appropriateness of the agitation for Oduduwa Republic. According to Vanguard, they were mainly on different pages with promoters of the self-determination plan, insisting that what the ethnic group needs is restructuring and not an independent country. Drawn from the six South-West states, including Kwara and Kogi states where a sizable number of indigenous Yoruba are found, the leaders said the agitation for secession affirms that Nigeria is long due for restructuring. Prof Banji Akintoye-led Yoruba World Congress, Dr.Shina Okanlomo’s Yoruba One Voice, and other affiliate Yoruba groups are spearheading the move, which seems to be gaining traction lately. The consensus among the pro-secessionists bodies is that Nigeria has failed the Yoruba nation, hence the calls for autonomy. “We only want Oduduwa Republic, and that is all. To everyone acc...

Chukwuemeka Ezeife A former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has said that most Nigerians want secession due to the level of nepotism by the Muhammadu Buhari Muhammadu administration. Ezeife told SaharaReporters that ethnic groups planning to have their own independent countries should not be blamed as things are not going on well in the country. A former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife The former governor was reacting to a comment by the president-general of the Yoruba World Congress, Prof. Banji Akintoye, who said the Yoruba ethnic group is in dire need of its own country. Ezeife said, “With the way we are going in Nigeria, you cannot blame any ethnic group wanting to opt-out. But I still believe Nigeria may survive as a country. God does not make mistakes through the instrumentality of the British colonialism to create Nigeria. Nigeria has diverse ethnic nationalities, many minerals, talents and people, so the country is designed to bring...