Banji Akintoye, the head of a Yoruba self-determination agitation group, has left his position.
Mr. Akintoye, a senator and history professor in the Second Republic, turned over the job to Wale Adeniran, his deputy.
Ilana Omo Oodua, the group, is pushing for the creation of an independent Yoruba nation.
Maxwell Adeleye, who is the group’s spokesperson, and Mr. Adeniran recently said that they were leaving the group because of a problem within the group.
However, Mr. Adeleye said that the group’s leadership had rejected their letters of resignation.
But in a letter dated December 5, Mr. Akintoye said that he was leaving because he was old and had a weak body.
On Thursday, Tunde Amusat, the group’s general secretary, gave them access to the letter’s contents.
“Hello, Wale,” I am writing to you in your capacity as Ilana Omo Oduduwa Chairman to express my congratulations to you and the organization’s recently elected Executive Council.
Ilana is also hereby informed of my departure from all remaining duties at Ilana through you. “I implore you and everyone else not to believe that this action is a result of the recent problems in Ilana,” he stated.
He claimed that the responsibilities he had as the group’s chairman were “onerous” for someone his age.
The former chairman continued, “As you know better than anyone else, I have been trying for more than a year to leave Ilana because balancing the responsibilities of Ilana with the responsibilities of the significantly increased demands of the self-determination struggle has been too much for me at my age.
Ilana is my special “baby” in the entire self-determination struggle, and you are the closest person to me there. Most Ilana members and all Ilana committees have been pleading with me not to leave Ilana for months. But you might recall that a month ago, at a special gathering of leaders of the self-determination struggle from around the world, you and the other attendees graciously agreed that I should resign from my position in Ilana due to my heavy burden of obligations to the higher levels of the entire struggle.
“With regard to our current problems in Ilana, I’m confident you can attest that I am not going because of them and that, generally speaking, even the most difficult situations never force me to give up.” God has given me the gift of a heart that loves all people in all circumstances, and because of that, I have the faith that I can endure anything and overcome the most difficult problems that mankind faces.
“However, I must beg your pardon for leaving Ilana in this state.After the extraordinary summit of world leaders about a month ago, I had intended to leave Ilana right away, but I chose to stay a little longer to assist you in resolving some of the lingering issues. You now have to deal with a scenario where some of our fanatics are still making things more difficult, which is regrettably slower than I had hoped for. I do, however, have a lot of faith in you, and I know that you will find a way to lead our Ilana back to the road of understanding, cooperation, and strength.
“Finally, I must congratulate you and say “thank you” for your outstanding leadership in this war for our troubled country. I must congratulate you and thank you for bearing the constant vilifications and unfounded allegations with such courage.The backlash from our own people is intense because we heroically took action to free our Yoruba homeland and prevent it from being obliterated by Nigeria’s evil powers.
We will undoubtedly soon hear from some steadfast critics that you plotted against me and forced me to leave Ilana, but we mustn’t let that worry us in the least. With God’s help, we will win this war, set the Yoruba people free, and give their country the freedom it needs to become a respected modern nation.
You are aware that I will always be there for you, both as a friend and close ally in the top echelons of the self-determination struggle and as a patron and mentor to Ilana in the same capacities that I serve other self-determination organizations.
“I praise God for the leadership skills He has given you, and I appreciate how selflessly you have contributed to the fight for our country.” “I wish you and your family the best,” Mr. Akintoye commented.
