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OPC warns Boko Haram to stay away from Yorubaland

The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) on Sunday asked the extremist group, Boko Haram to steer clear of the South-West. In a statement on Sunday, Founder … Continue reading OPC warns Boko Haram to stay away from Yorubaland


The Founder and President of OPC, Frederick Fasehun

The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) on Sunday asked the extremist group, Boko Haram to steer clear of the South-West.

The Founder and President of OPC, Frederick Fasehun

In a statement on Sunday, Founder and President of OPC, Frederick Fasehun, asked the insurgents not to “export” violence to Yorubaland.

He said although Boko Haram’s current agitation justified OPC’s age-old demand for a Sovereign National Conference, his organisation would view the attack of the region as a declaration of war.

Dr Fasehun said, “Nigeria has been experiencing some muscle flexing that has led to the death of many citizens in the North. But since such muscle flexing is not pitching geographical zones against one another, OPC has always felt that Nigeria’s current crisis has not assumed warfare proportions.

“We sympathise with those who have causes to struggle for. However, we believe that local struggles for social justice should be contained within local boundaries.

“Any extension beyond such boundaries clearly connotes the pursuing of a territorial ambition; and any people provoking other people through territorial ambition should ultimately expect a war. And in warfare, everything and anything is fair.

“OPC’s message should be clear to sponsors of the ongoing violence in our country. They should not unnecessarily jeopardize their own lives, their businesses and their other interests in the places where they currently enjoy peace. Yoruba people are not unaware of their addresses and their business interests throughout the South-West. A word is enough for the wise.

“Last year, the bodies of Yoruba graduates serving their fatherland in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were brought home to us. OPC takes this opportunity to alert governors of the South-West on the need to take immediate measures to preempt and prevent the killing of our youths participating in the NYSC. The same advice goes to Yoruba indigenes residing in the North; they must do the needful to avoid danger overtaking them in the land of their sojourning.”

The OPC leader said the Yoruba people had elected to live in peace and harmony with other ethnic nationalities.

He, however, said they would do everything necessary to protect and defend their land and people from external aggression.