Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state has stated that he does not believe in or support Yoruba Nation.
Akeredolu stated that he was only in support of the Southern Governors’ Forum’s position on the ban on open grazing in the southern part of the country and did not support the Yoruba nation agitation led by activist Sunday Igboho.
Mr Richard Olatunde, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, said in a statement:
“Some group of persons who held a rally under the cover of what they term ‘secessionist agitations’ in Akure, on Saturday, May 22, 2021, erroneously claimed to have had his support for the rally.
Governor Akeredolu wishes to state clearly that while he acknowledges the right of individuals and groups to hold peaceful rallies, it must not be misconstrued to mean support for secessionist agenda and or balkanization of the nation; far from it.
Unequivocally, the governor’s opinion on the Akure rally or any other of its ilk, is only to the effect that he is not opposed to any civil protest which is not in breach of the extant laws of the nation.
“He neither believes nor supports the quest for the Yoruba nation outside of Nigeria in the manner canvassed. Governor Akeredolu stands by a virile, united, and indivisible Nigeria as demanded by the Southern Governors’ Forum. Therefore, the vigor, zeal, leadership, and candor displayed by Governor Akeredolu for a just and fair Nigeria is altruistic and borne out of patriotism for the nation as well as love for his people, the Yoruba ethnic nationality.
“It is important, therefore, to state without any equivocation that the Yoruba nation secessionist promoters do not enjoy any lending hand in Governor Akeredolu.”
