Prof Banji Akintoye resigns as Ninas chairman as Ilana Omo Oodua quits self-determination alliance

MAJOR disagreements appear to have surfaced in the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (Ninas) over recent days leading to the resignation of its chairman Professor Banji Akintoye and the withdrawal of his association from the body.

Renown historian Professor Akintoye, was the leader of Yoruba self-determination group Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO) and was subsequently elected to be the chairman of Ninas by all its other member associations. However, in what appears to be a major fracture, not only has he resigned as chairman but IOO has also withdrawn from Ninas.

Highly respected, Professor Akintoye, a renowned Historian hails from Ado-Ekiti, represented the old Ondo State in the Nigerian senate from 1979 to 1983. In a shock development today, however, Professor Akintoye and 44 other leaders who signed a statement, pointing out that the reason for quitting the alliance is to preserve the integrity and reputation of the Yoruba nation agitation for self-determination.

Ninas is the umbrella body of leading regional self-determination groups from across southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt. Professor Akintoye represented the southwest, the Lower Niger Congress under the leadership of Tony Nnadi represented the south-south and  southeast, while the Middle-Belt Renaissance Movement under the leadership of Professor Yusufu Turaki represented the Middle Belt.