National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams, yesterday replied Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Mustapha, over his recent threat to relocate his people to Cameroon if Nigeria partitions.
The OPC boss, who is one of the delegates at the ongoing conference, said he was disappointed that such statement could come form a royal father like Lamido.
He noted that unlike the north, the Yoruba nation don’t depend on the government for survival, adding that the region could survive without the government.
His words, “Nobody should threaten the unity of Nigeria. We are all Nigerians, so we should not be threatened. We, the Yoruba people want to remain in Nigeria, but we should not be threatened.
“We didn’t have oil in 1954 to 1959, but we all know what Chief Obafemi Awolowo did for this nation through the Western Region government and when you study the Yoruba very carefully, our developments usually come from 80 per cent individuals and not government. We don’t rely on any development from government.
“It is the North that depends on the government, they don’t need Nigeria more than us, but we all need Nigeria because we have inter-married, done businesses together and Abuja solidifies us”
”So, it is unfortunate that such a statement is coming from the Emir and he’s not the only one with such mind. some of the delegates in the conference are saying that if we do not agree with them on three-quarters for a decision that they will walk out. Nobody can threaten anybody,” he added.
On Lamido’s threat, he said, “I was highly disappointed about his statement; an eminent royal father like the Lamido of Adamawa ought not to make such a statement. He’s one of the most respected Emirs we have in Nigeria today.
“He should be number five most recognised Emir in the country. I seize this opportunity to appeal to the royal fathers, including the Emirs, to watch their statements.”
Adams added that the country remains indivisible, asserting that that nobody could threaten its corporate existence.