Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed his preference for Nigeria over the Oodua Republic, despite being of Yoruba descent.
This statement came after the recent actions of freedom fighter Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Igboho, who submitted a petition to the UK government. The petition requested that the UK consider the establishment of a Yoruba nation.
Igboho’s petition was directed to the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, urging his government to take the matter into consideration.
However, Obasanjo distanced himself from the concept of a Yoruba nation.
During this time, he engaged in a conversation with a delegation led by Ibrahim Shekarau, the former governor of Kano State and now the head of the League of Northern Democrats, at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Obasanjo attributed the nation’s enduring division to the regionalism that was prevalent before Nigeria’s independence.
He stated: “It is high time we began working for the national interest. Yes, you have identified your group as the League of northern democrats but how I wish you called your group the National League of Democrats because where you come from should not be a problem.
“Where I was born should not be the enemy of my being a Nigerian. It will be greater to be a Nigerian than to be a member of the Republic of Oodua.
“I am undoubtedly proud to be a Yoruba but my being a Nigerian should not be the enemy of my being a Yoruba.
“We must get the best man for the job. It doesn’t matter where he comes from. We must get our acts together.”
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