Okun people renew call to join South West…- TheConclaveNg

The Yoruba-speaking Okun people of Kogi State have stepped up efforts to integrate into Nigeria’s southwestern region, citing decades of political marginalization, insecurity and lack of cultural representation within the north-central state.

Speaking on Wednesday in an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs program on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Ambassador Dr. Clara Monisola Tobaojo, a member of the Atunto Socio-Cultural Foundation and coordinator of the Okun people, explained that the push for integration is part of a long-standing campaign to place the Okun people in a region in line with their language, culture and traditions.

He argued that integration is necessary to safeguard life, protect cultural identity and ensure political inclusion.

“The goal of the community is to ensure a sense of belonging and reduce marginalization,” Tobaojo said.

He added: “We are from Ile-Ife. Being in our current position is like plucking a fish out of water. We look around and cannot see the people we are related to. We are not related to Ebira, Koton-Karfi or Igala. So we are simply operating alone and achieving little because culturally we are not connected to the people around us.”

■ Security challenges fuel momentum

Tobaojo noted that insecurity, including attacks and banditry, have worsened the marginalization of the community.

“It has also been very disheartening and disappointing when people are suddenly torn from their domain, from the house they have built, from the work they love, from the people they love. Suddenly they become strangers to their home base. There are issues that give us sleepless nights when you reflect on what culturally unites people in their place and suddenly the whole thing becomes a mockery when people are torn from their homes to go and live in their bush in the sun and rain with mistreatment that cannot be mentioned.

“It’s very disheartening and anyone in their right mind will not feel comfortable with the situation and will not be satisfied with the state of the nation because I keep wondering how we get here,” he said.

He described the ongoing violence in Okun-speaking areas as one of the main reasons for seeking integration.

Community concerns extend beyond security to governance and political representation.

“Since the creation of Kogi State, no Yoruba-speaking Kogi man has been governor. Political marginalization is part of it. And not to mention other things. No one can feel comfortable with this. So, if we go to the place where we belong, where we come from, it is better for our people,” he said.

Tobaojo disclosed that the Atunto Sociocultural Foundation met with leaders of the South-West region, including governors of Ibadan state, to discuss the Okun people’s demand for integration. “The request was well received. We expressed our concerns and were encouraged to pursue formal representation at both the federal and legislative levels,” he said.

Efforts were also made to engage the three branches of Nigeria’s government. “A draft has been submitted to the National Assembly regarding our request, not only to parliament but also to the judiciary and the President. The copies are already on their tables for consideration,” Tobaojo said.

He stressed that traditional institutions were included in the discussions, particularly regarding insecurity and banditry. It was not received well initially, but with the current situation where people are losing lives and properties due to banditry, the reasoning is that it is better for us to go where we belong. Isn’t it better that we have a sense of belonging, security and everything that is necessary? So, even traditional leaders embrace it. It is all-encompassing,” he added.

■ Okun’s status and long-term goals

While the community also aims for the creation of an Okun State, Tobaojo says the primary objective remains integration into the southwestern region.

“The issue of Okun State is still ongoing. It is still ongoing and we believe it will be actualised, but whether Okun State comes or not, the demand to be integrated into the Western Region was made even before the demand for Okun State, which means our desire is to be located properly. When we are located properly, our State can now emerge to meet our needs there,” he said.

Tobaojo also suggested that aligning state-building along ethnic lines could improve governance and development.

“Yes, Nigeria would have been created in line with ethnicity because when you speak the same language, you have the same cultural background, you blend in much better than when you are with people whose language you can’t even understand. Your cultural background is different. So, it is natural for people, that development is improved when ethnicity exists,” he said.

■ Appeal for unity and security

Addressing critics, Tobaojo argued that national unity depends on productive ethnic synergy.

“Can there be national unity if a particular ethnic group cannot work in synergy with others due to diversity? That won’t be the case. We want to have a sense of belonging and being in the region we come from,” he said.

Population size, he added, is critical to political influence. He estimated that the Okun number at least 10 million, including those in Kogi State and the diaspora.

“Population matters in elections. The larger population always has the upper hand politically,” he said.

Tobaojo noted that political exclusion affects employment and resource allocation. “Even business appointments are affected by our current situation. Our farmers cannot go out to farm. Villages are already eroded by banditry in Okun-speaking land,” he said.

On governance solutions, Tobaojo expressed cautious optimism about initiatives such as state policing and constitutional amendments, which he believes could improve the safety and representation of minorities over time.

“The state police is still a work in progress. It hasn’t been approved yet. We’re still hoping for the best. Nigeria is a very big country, and that’s what impressed us. So let’s let everyone manage the whole area and see what the results will be,” he said.

State police requests have been highlighted as a potential solution to security challenges. “I don’t think the state police have started to function yet, but it is a way to go. When the police police their state, they will have an area of ​​jurisdiction and they will function better,” he said, praising the President for showing openness to the initiative.

■ Peaceful community approach

Tobaojo stressed that the Okun people are carrying out the request in a peaceful manner. “We are engaging leaders, traditional institutions and federal authorities. This is not a violent or confrontational move; it is a legitimate demand for integration, representation and protection,” he said.

■ Public support and concerns

Listeners and callers on Frontline expressed similar concerns.

One, identified as Oscar, described the situation as the result of injustice and mismanagement by the government. “The issue we are facing is fairness and justice. If the government did what was right, no one would think where they came from,” he said.

Prince Raymond Hassan added that corruption and self-interest among political actors exacerbate ethnic disparities. “Some people are only there for their self-interest. What we need in Nigeria is not prayer but honesty and justice,” he said.

Tobaojo reiterated that the main motivation of the Okun people is a sense of belonging and security.

“We are not the only ethnic group that doesn’t merge with others. Look at Ibera and Igala. Are they the same language? Are they the same culture? So, it’s just a matter of putting all the related ethnic groups together; Kogi State has many cultural groups put together. Our goal is to merge with the South-West region where we actually belong,” he said.

Political marginalization continues to limit participation and access to leadership roles. “Local states will allow us to operate within our domain. The population will be known and we will be able to choose our leaders instead of remaining in the shadows for decades,” he said.

Tobaojo stressed that the defense of the Okun people is based on peaceful engagement and long-term planning for security, representation and development. “Integration in the southwestern region and the eventual creation of the state are part of a broader vision for the Okun people to fully participate in governance and development,” he said.

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