Yoruba women numbering about 1,000 from Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, United Kingdom, Papua Guinea, Venezuela, Spain, France, and other countries on wednesday visited the Ooni of Ile-Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, in his Palace to express themselves on the need for Yoruba Nation.
The Women, under the agies of ‘Obinrin Oodua Agbaye’, dressed with traditional ritual attires, consisting of white body wrappers and beads, all from the diaspora, numbering about 1,000, stormed the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye – Ogunwusi on sunday 11th April, 2021, demanding that it is either self-determination or nothing for the Yoruba Nation.
Leader of the group, Princess Yeye Simisade Kuku-Onayemi and their Secretary-General, Dr. Owowunmi Babalola-Okocha, said the gods in Yoruba Land have mandated them to commence spiritual measures that will lead to the prompt actualisation of Yoruba Nation.
“All of us that you are seeing here today are top-notch professionals. We have medical doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants, engineers, development experts, journalists, academic dons, top bankers and entrepreneurs among us. The majority of us are working at blue-ship public and private organisations,” Simisade Kuku-Onayemi, the worldwide leader of the women, said.
Omowumi, a resident of the United States who is also the Secretary of the group, flanked by other Yoruba women from 37 countries such as Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, United Kingdom, Paupa Guinea, Venezuela, Spain, France, amongst others, said the gods mandated them to conduct some spiritual measures in the palaces of Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo, Osemawe of Ondo, Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Obaro of Kabba, Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oloffa of Offa and Awujale of Ijebu Land respectively.
She said they are contented with what they have but they are not happy with the situation of things in their fatherland hence their coming out to salvage their land in a Yoruba way.
“When we are done with our consultations and prayers, the people of Yoruba Nation shall be surprised at the rate by which the Yoruba Nation shall come into reality without any bloodshed. It shall be amazing and the world shall be shocked,” Omowumi declared.
In his brief remarks, Yoruba Leader and Alana of Ilana Omo Oodua, Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye, who led the women to Ooni’s palace, described the action of the women as a powerful declaration showing the departure of Yoruba land from Nigeria.
The 86-year-old member of the second republic Senate said “our women who gave birth to us have spoken. They have declared and Heaven has heard. What they have started is a powerful declaration showing the departure of the Yoruba Nation from Nigeria.
“It will be amazing and shocking by the time the declaration is made. Yoruba Nation shall be birthed and with the support of our women, our freedom day is nearer,” Akintoye said.
Ooni of Ife in his response to the development, highlighted the importance of women in Yoruba’s strive for freedom, stating that the new twist to the agitation for self-determination is that women are now involved which makes him very glad.
“Whatever you are doing that women are not involved cannot materialise. We are going no where if our women are not carried along and get involved. If you are married, and your wife is not happy with you, it is not going to work well with you unless the woman is not fighting you with sincerity.
“Women are not timid, they are warriors. From the Holy Bible, we read how Deborah fought for her people and conquered. Moremi fought and delivered the people of Ancient Ife from the Igbomekun who were our deadly adversaries. Therefore, women are key to our struggle for self-determination and we must carry them along, going forward.
“We will support our women and we are happy they are taking up the battle. Again, I want to say very expressly that If we fail to have the support of our women folks, we are going nowhere. Therefore, I welcome you to the source and I wish you well in your visit to other palaces in Yoruba Nation”, Ooni said.
The National Chairman of Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Wale Adeniran, Akin Adejuwon, were also present at the event.
