The Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye), the apex body representing Yoruba people globally, has expressed deep concern over perceived Northern political manoeuvres aimed at destabilising the South and influencing the outcome of the 2027 elections.
The council in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Isaac Aderemi Ajibola, criticised recent comments by prominent Northern figures, including Prof. Ango Abdullahi of the Northern Elders Forum, who suggested the dissolution of Nigeria based on the alleged expiration of the 1914 amalgamation treaty.
Similarly, the council condemned Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s remarks during a convocation at Skyline University, Kano, where he claimed Southern leaders, particularly in Lagos, were “colonising” the North.
In response, the council accused Kwankwaso and other Northern elites of deliberately spreading misinformation about President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform initiatives.
The pan-Yoruba group described his comments as divisive and politically motivated, asserting that the reforms aim to address long-standing revenue inequalities and ensure equitable development nationwide.
“We are seriously concerned to witness all manners of unprecedented barrage of fireworks of incendiary rhetoric issued from different Northern elites as emanated from Prof Ango Abdullahi of the Northern Elders Forum seeking to call for an end of Nigeria based on the 100 years expiration of 1914 treaty after 10 years which lapsed in 2014.
“To Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankanso’s crudity, unverified lies and tale of discords against the South: “Lagos colonising the North”, was his biassed statements!
“Hence, we must expressly express our dismay and disappointed (sic) on such insensitive rhetoric and by that laconically detest such an unflattering statement from chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for intentionally misinforming and misleading Nigerians about President Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills before the National Assembly,” the council said.
The council also took issue with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent criticism of Nigeria’s leadership during a keynote address at Yale University.
The group labelled his remarks as inflammatory and counterproductive, accusing him of harbouring ulterior motives to undermine the current administration.
“In strongest term we are not oblivion of the ongoing despicable threats bothering on excessive interference and high powered conspiracies to disrupt and hijack power from the South with the systemic and surreptitious renewed onslaught recruitment of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of centrifugal forces being radically committed through his offensive and disparaging statements being deliberately orchid in running the current Administration down by all means possible,” the group pointed out.
The council further highlighted historical grievances, including the alleged marginalisation of Southern leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola, while accusing the North of perpetuating a “born to rule” ideology.
“Now we must reiterate and state emphatically in admonishing the Northern elites to think twice on their incendiary statements and spiral bombardment of attacks through sponsored protests, media adverts or careless statements as well as the links such as: the #EndBadGovernance which started by some Northern youths, that was latter aggravated further and taken over by the #DayofRage led by their proxies.
“Unfortunately, this furtive and clandestine motivated underwater currents are largely engendered and orchestrated towards an obvious suspected Northern quest and desperation for power by all means ahead of 2027 Presidential elections.
“How do we rate a situation wherein throughout the 8 years tenure of the former President Muhammadu Buhari, the entire Northern elites do not consider ending the Nigeria treaty of 1914 only to wake up at the 99th hour of a Southwest Presidency to rage all manners of brimstone?
“Hence, we warn in strongest terms that this premeditated plan and well marshalled evil agendas to cause disunity, mayhem and strife among the citizens must be stopped once and for all for the betterment of our dear nation.
“We vehemently frowned at the spurious and unverified lies, especially devastating propaganda actions targeted at the minds of their Northern kinsmen and women to hate and wish the President dead, this we unequivocally resist and condemn in its entirety,” it stated.
Calling for immediate action, the council urged the government to convene a national dialogue to address regional disparities and foster unity.
It warned against any attempts to seize power through undemocratic means, including coups or other manipulative tactics.