Prof. Banji Akintoye, leader of the Oduduwa self-determination movement, has called for the peaceful separation of Yoruba and Igbo regions from Nigeria, citing decades of instability, marginalisation, and systemic failure. Speaking during a virtual meeting in Atlanta, USA, Akintoye declared that Nigeria is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, stating, "The Nigerian imbroglio has gone beyond genocide. It is now a global humanitarian crisis." The event marked the adoption of the Washington D.C. Resolution by the Coalition for De-Amalgamation and Security (CODES), which outlines a 90-day timeline for drafting constitutions for the proposed Yoruba (Oduduwa) and Igbo (Biafra) nations. These drafts will be submitted to the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and other global bodies.
Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho said the Yoruba people have endured prolonged insecurity and marginalisation. George Akinnola, deputy leader of the Yoruba movement, stressed economic empowerment as a core reason for separation. Dr. Kayode Emiola likened Nigeria's situation to the former Yugoslavia, arguing that equitable dissolution ensures long-term stability. Representing Igbo interests, Mazi Tony Nwisi of the Igbo Global Network–IPOB said separation would restore dignity and security. Mazi Emmanuel Kanu and Mazi Ositadimma Igenu affirmed the process would be peaceful and lawful. Prof. Chinedu Agbodike warned that without structural change, Nigeria would remain vulnerable to extremism.
Banji Akintoye's call for separation is not new rhetoric but a repositioning of long-held grievances on an international stage. By setting a 90-day deadline for draft constitutions and targeting global institutions, he shifts the conversation from protest to procedure. This does not mean Nigeria is fracturing tomorrow, but it signals that the idea of de-amalgamation is being structured to attract diplomatic scrutiny. For Nigerians, the real implication lies in how such movements exploit the state's failure to offer credible alternatives.
